Born and raised in Ballymena, Northern Ireland a young Jonathan Rea was keen on two wheeled motor racing on the word go. His favourite idol was the late Joey Dunlop who he himself was already a classified legend not just locally but across the world.
“He (Joey Dunlop) was my hero growing up”
Jonathan Rea
The rise of a champion
For much of his career he has been backed by Red Bull. Rea was British 60cc motocross runner up in 1997, before moving up through the motocross classes. Jonathan Rea first began to race on the tarmac in 2003. Impressing in the British Superbike Championship, he moved up onto the world stage in 2008, finishing as the World Supersport runner-up.
His rookie World SBK season saw him finish inside the top five, with two wins mixed into his total of eight podiums. A top result for a first season rider and a new star was born inside the SBK paddock.
Continuing his journey through the WorldSBK series with Honda, he secured 15 victories with the Japanese manufacturer from 2009 to 2014 in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. Making a bold leap over to the green machines of Kawasaki Racing Team for 2015, the Northern Irish rider has never looked back. Taking 84 victories over six seasons.
The magnificent six
Becoming the first rider in history to take four back-to-back WorldSBK titles in 2018, the Ulsterman stormed to a sparkling fifth World Superbike crown in 2019. Five titles in a row for rider, team and manufacturer – WorldSBK really had seen nothing like it.
In 2020 he retained his title during one of the Covid 19 pandemic. Rea became first man ever to win six successive superbike world championships a feat I’m sure will stand in the years to come.
Throughout recent years it has become a bit of struggle for Rea. Losing the championship to Toprak Razgatlioglu by just 13 points then in 2022 being completely outclassed by both Toprak (Yamaha) and Alvaro Bautista (Ducati) once changes where made by the WSBK authories imposed rev limits reductions on Rea’s Kawasaki to balance the field, Rea has sometimes been playing 2nd or 3rd best behind his rivals. Rea will remain with the team until the 2024 season.
MOTO GP?!
Rea has even been a dab hand with Moto GP as well! Rea made his MotoGP debut in 2012, replacing the injured Casey Stoner for the Repsol Honda team. He finished 8th in the San Marino race, held at Misano in Italy, and 7th at Motorland Aragon in Spain, before returning to World Superbike duties.
Away from racing
Outside of Motor racing Rea became honorary doctorate with Queens University in Belfast, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours, both for services to motorcycle racing.
