Jonathan Rea joked that his latest record had left him feeling "really old".
The 35-year-old claimed a dramatic Superpole win in Estoril on Sunday to write his name into the history books once again.
Rea capitalised on Toprak Razgatlıoğlu's final-lap mistake to take the chequered flag, and with it eclipse legendary rider Noriyuki Haga’s record for the longest winning career.
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Haga's old record was set between Race 2 at Sugo in 1997 and Race 2 at the Nurburgring in 2010, a winning career that spanned 12 years and 11 months exactly.
But Rea's success in Estoril saw him beat that by one day.
The Ballyclare man joined the World Superbike Championship in 2008 and won his first race at Misano in 2009.
Rea won both of Sunday's races in Estoril, with his first (Superpole) seeing him break Haga's longstanding record.
Reflecting on his latest milestone, Rea joked: “You make me feel really old by saying that!
"I did start this Championship when I was 20 years old, in World Supersport. It’s given me many, many happy memories.
"I’ve worked with some incredible people. Technicians, mechanics and they’ve become friends. I feel really at home here and looking forward to making many more race starts and trying my best to claim as many more wins as possible.
"Savour this moment and look forward to Misano in a few weeks.”
On Sunday, Rea also moved ahead of Tom Sykes by becoming only the second rider to make 350 starts in WSBK, 27 behind Troy Corser who sits top of the all-time list at 377.
10 longest winning careers in WorldSBK
- Jonathan Rea – 12 years, 11 months, 1 day (Misano Race 2, 2009 to Estoril Race 2, 2022)
- Noriyuki Haga – 12 years, 11 months (Sugo Race 2, 1997 to Nurburgring Race 2, 2010)
- Troy Corser – 10 years, 7 months, 24 days (Salzburgring Race 2, 1995 to Phillip Island Race 1, 2006)
- Pierfrancesco Chili – 8 years, 10 months (Monza Race 2, 1995 to Misano Race 2, 2004)
- Troy Bayliss – 8 years, 4 months, 29 days (Hockenheim Race 1, 2000 to Portimao Race 2, 2008)
- Chaz Davies – 8 years, 1 month, 9 days (Nurburgring Race 2, 2012 to Estoril Race 2, 2020)
- Carl Fogarty – 7 years, 4 months, 23 days (Donington Race 2, 1992 to Hockenheim Race 1, 1999)
- Marco Melandri – 6 years, 10 months, 29 days (Donington Race 1, 2011 to Phillip Island Race 2, 2018)
- Ruben Xaus – 6 years, 9 months, 27 days (Oschersleben Race 2, 2001 to Misano Race 2, 2008)
- Tom Sykes – 6 years, 7 months, 18 days (Nurburgring Race 2, 2011 to Assen Race 2, 2018)
Stats from World Superbike website
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