BACK WHERE IT ALL STARTED; Jonathan Rea to return to Honda as the Japanese manufacturer’s test rider
The six-time World Champion may have retired from WorldSBK as a full-time rider, but the Ulsterman will still be seen around the paddock at test events as he enters his new role as a test rider
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s greatest-ever rider will continue to grace the paddock with his presence as it was announced that he will join forces with the manufacturer he started his WorldSBK career with to help Honda with the development of their CBR 1000-RR-R. The 38-year-old hung up the leathers as a full-time WorldSBK rider at the end of the 2025 season, putting a period on one of the greatest careers in motorsport history; having won 119 races, finished on the podium 264 times, and being crowned World Champion six times, each standing as WorldSBK all-time records.
Early in his career, the #65 spent his first three seasons atop a Honda bike in British Superbikes, achieving a runner-up finish in 2007, before his move to Ten Kate Honda in WorldSSP where he netted another runner-up finish. These successes earned him a wildcard debut appearance in WorldSBK in the final round of the 2008 season at Portimao. He announced himself emphatically that weekend, foreshadowing his career to come through his P3 in the Superpole session, and capitalizing on his front-row start to finish P4 in his first career WorldSBK race. His full-time ascension to WorldSBK happened the next season, in 2009, where he rode on Honda machinery through the 2014 season, amassing 15 race wins and 42 podiums. These achievements place him third- highest among all-time WorldSBK Honda riders. Rea and Honda will look to tap into the Ulsterman’s unparallelled experience to the CBR 1000 RR-R as they look to continue to make strides with the bike for their exciting new pair of riders for 2026, Moto2’s Jake Dixon and MotoGP’s Somkiat Chantra.
On his new chapter, Jonathan Rea said: “From the moment HRC shared their plans and the new role they envision for me, I was immediately excited to understand how I could contribute. It feels like a real full-circle moment to return to Honda, the manufacturer with which I gained my initial WorldSBK experience and my very first race win in the category. Although my role will be quite different from what I’ve been used to as a full-time racer, I’m highly motivated to embrace this new chapter. My aim is to bring all the experience and knowledge I’ve gained throughout my career and use it to support the development of the CBR1000RR-R and the Honda HRC factory team in the best possible way. I’m also very happy to be working again with Chris Pike, the Honda HRC test team project manager and my former crew chief, with whom I share great memories and mutual respect. Working together as a team, I’m confident we can build something truly positive for the future. I can’t wait to get started.”
Honda HRC Team Manager Yuji Mori commented on the legend’s signing in the new role, he said: “We are very pleased to welcome Jonathan back to our WorldSBK project and to the Honda family. Having the most successful rider in WorldSBK history join us in a role as important as HRC test rider is truly significant for all of us and, we believe, for the series itself. Jonathan began his international career with Honda, and to see him return now with such a wealth of knowledge and experience makes this collaboration especially valuable and underlines our full and continued commitment to the Superbike project. His contribution will play an important part as we keep developing our programme and work towards bringing Honda back to the level we are aiming for in the championship.”
Look back through Rea’s dominant 18-year WorldSBK career with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
