Three-time WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea beat Lewis Hamilton, Anthony Joshua and Chris Froome in last night's BBC Sports Personality of the Year to come in runner-up behind Mo Farah and says it was 'beyond his wildest dreams'.

The Kawasaki rider polled only 3000 less votes than mutliple Olympic gold medallist Farah and was 20,000 ahead of F1 champion Hamilton who couldn't be arsed to turn up.

"It was incredibly strange, a big surprise. I was just happy to be here," said Rea at the event.

"All the talking leading up to the event and all the support I had on social media, I could see it all, but I never in my wildest dreams believed that people would get behind me that much. It was a public vote so I need to thank everyone that picked up the phone, there will be some phone bill in our little country tonight.

"It's been a dream come true to win not one world championship, but now three on the bounce. To cap it off at the end of the season before I start my preparations for 2018 is just incredible.

"It really means a lot to do this for motorcycling. The last motorcycling nomination was 10 years ago, so to make a nice entrance tonight on my bike and to be voted for by the public is incredible.

"I think if we can bring Superbike to more people, it's an amazing weekend out for people to watch and for young children to get involved with, then we've done our job tonight."