After taking three podium places at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship headed to Portugal, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) flew into London to receive an award. Rea attended a ceremony to collect his OBE and received his award from The Princess Royal after he was awarded the honour in the New Year Honours List at the start of 2022.

Rea had previously been given an MBE, making him a Member of the Order of the British Empire, back in 2017 which was also for services to motorcycle racing. Now, with six Championships under his belt, Rea has been awarded an OBE, an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, with Rea still in contention for an unprecedented seventh WorldSBK title should he win this season. Rea’s OBE was awarded to him by The Princess Royal, Princess Anne at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Speaking about the OBE, Rea said: “I am truly humbled and honoured to be recognised yet again at this level for my achievements and contribution to motorcycling. It seems like only yesterday I was collecting my MBE from Prince William at the Palace, but to receive an OBE from The Princess Royal and be amongst so many amazing names and legends who have also received one, is beyond anything I could have imagined. It really is such a privilege for me to have been made an OBE in the late Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honours and to collect this honour not just for myself, but on behalf of my family, the wider Kawasaki Racing Team, and my fans in Northern Ireland and across the world. What an amazing opportunity to shine a light on world class motorcycle racing and especially the talent we have that comes from my part of the world. It helps for me to stay focussed and fighting at the front in the World Superbike Championship.”

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