News

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship will be one to remember for lots of reasons, and one is Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) making his debut for Yamaha this year. After nine seasons of success with Kawasaki that couldn’t be matched by anyone, the Ulsterman opted for a new challenge when a vacant seat opened up at Yamaha this year. He’s looked comfortable on the YZF-R1 so far as he looks to bounce back into P1 and continue writing his WorldSBK legacy.

THE PRE-YAMAHA STORY: bursting onto the scene with Honda, unprecedented results with Kawasaki

Rea made his debut back in 2008 at Portimao and was instantly showing what he could do, securing a front row start alongside polesitter Troy Bayliss, 2009 WorldSSP Champion Cal Crutchlow, and two-time WorldSBK Champion Max Biaggi. P4 in Race 1 showed his talent, and from there he never looked back. 15 wins with Honda came before a switch to Kawasaki unleashed his talent. Six consecutive titles between 2015 and 2020, more than 100 wins and unrivalled levels of success led to one of the most successful partnerships not just in WorldSBK, but in motorsport as a whole. However, all good things come to an end and, after two tricky seasons in 2022 and 2023, Rea opted for a move to Yamaha for a new challenge in 2024.

THE BLUE CHAPTER: first time riding the YZF-R1

Rea made his Yamaha testing debut at Jerez right after the season ended and quickly adapted, setting rapid times as he found his feet. Another test before 2023 concluded continued this, and then there were two more tests at Jerez and Portimao in 2024. Plenty of time to adapt, and test new items, means the 37-year-old is in good stead for Australia as he looks to repeat what he did with Kawasaki back in 2015 and win on his debut with his new manufacturer. At EICMA, he also spoke about how his first bike was a Yamaha with the PW50, the family ties he has to Yamaha and much more.

WHAT RECORDS COULD HE BREAK? There’s more history for Rea to write…

It’s possible to think someone with the most WorldSBK starts, wins, titles and fastest laps has broken every record there is to break already, but actually there are a few his switch to Yamaha could bring him into contention for. Victory for Yamaha would make him the first rider to win with three different Japanese manufacturers after Honda and Kawasaki, while he’d join an exclusive club of riders who’ve won with three manufacturers. Stephane Mertens, Eugene Laverty, Anthony Gobert, Chaz Davies, Troy Corser and Marco Melandri are the only riders who have managed this feat. A win with Yamaha in Race 1 at Phillip Island would mean he’s won two debut races with different manufacturers, after taking victory in the same race in 2015 with Kawasaki. Of course, there’s also the seventh title aspect should he win the Championship this season, cementing his status as the greatest of all time in WorldSBK.

REA’S THOUGHTS ON YAMAHA SWITCH: “I’m enjoying it and I think the bike suits my style”

Speaking about his first season with Yamaha, Rea said: “I’m really excited. It’s always nice when you change colours just to breathe some different air. It’s been really cool. I’m really grateful to Yamaha for giving me the opportunity and making me feel so welcome. I’m enjoying the bike. I’m really enjoying the engine character of the R1. Working with the crew, a completely new crew for me, aside from my chief mechanic Uri and I knew Davide from a few years back. The Yamaha’s a very user friendly bike, I’m enjoying it and I think it suits my style. It can be ridden in so many ways. You see how Toprak rode the bike was super aggressive, then you can see how guys like Remy and Locatelli rode the bike; more wheels in line but still super-fast.”

A NEW ERA BEGINS: follow Rea’s maiden Yamaha campaign in style using the WorldSBK VideoPass!