Champions Week: Jonathan Rea
Champions Week ends with the Master of 2015.
In the WorldSBK premier class, Jonathan Rea didn’t just win his first title in 2015. He utterly dominated the season. He made history in more than one way, but notably by becoming the first Northern Irish title winner and by leading Kawasaki to its first Constructors’ crown.
Who is Jonathan Rea?
‘JR’ was born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, 28 years ago. His first full WorldSBK season was in 2009; between then and the end of 2014, he accumulated 14 race victories. In 2015, he became the ultimate reference: 14 wins in a single season was a direct reflection of his sheer dominance in what was his first campaign on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, following a seven-year WorldSBK partnership with Honda.
How did he win the 2015 title?
With an overwhelming explosion of talent and riding of the very highest level. He finished only either first or second in the first 16 races of the season and on the podium in every single race bar three: two fourth places in Jerez, where ironically he picked up the title, and the final encounter in Qatar when he was struck by an engine problem. He achieved no less than five doubles from 13 events and ended proceedings with a massive gap of 132 points over the second-placed man: a perfect example of ‘one for the records books’…
What will he be doing next year?
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Rea will continue with the Provec-run Kawasaki Racing Team, surrounded by professionals in the form of Team Principal Guim Roda and Crew Chief Pere Riba: two key factors in the level of excellence achieved across 2015. Rea’s aim is to become the first back-to-back World Superbike Champion on this side of the new Millennium (the last was a fellow Brit, Carl Fogarty, in 1998 and 1999).
Did you know?
Away from the race track, Rea is the true family man. His whole career as a rider stemmed from his father, Johnny, who was a proven motocross competitor and Isle of Man TT winner. Married to Tatia who grew up and went to school on Phillip Island, the couple are the proud parents of Jake and Tyler. In fact, Rea’s presence at the birth of Tyler last October meant he missed the first test of the 2016 Ninja at MotorLand Aragon. Not that it seemed to matter, as he demonstrated tremendous single lap and race pace at the most recent gathering in Jerez…
