Rea secures runner up spot in Sports Personality of the Year
British champion’s success acknowledged by British public
Ending a stunning 2017 season in style, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) secured the runner up spot in the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year, finishing just 3,000 votes behind Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah.
Entering the arena in Liverpool on-board his Kawasaki ZX-10RR, the 30 year old took to the stage to address the British public in his bid to take a final crown of 2017. Taking second position in such a mainstream event, its clear Rea’s achievement of taking three back to back MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championships has impressed the British public on a phenomenal scale.
Back in 2007, James Toseland was nominated after taking his second WorldSBK world title and finished in fourth position. Humbled with the award, it was a fantastic way to end a season which saw the Northern Irish rider take 16 wins, 24 podiums and six pole positions.
Speaking to BBC Northern Ireland, Rea explains: “I am quite taken aback, I had no target and to be called out second was a big surprise, this was a public vote so I need to say thank you to the public for voting. It really means a lot and to do this for motorcycling is great, to make a nice entrance and to be voted for by the public is great. I was just happy to be here and to have all the support on social media, I would never have in my wildest dreams think people would have voted. It’s been a great way to cap off 2017. It doesn’t get much better than this.”
Re-live all of Rea’s successes throughout 2017, all with the WorldSBK VideoPass.
