Record World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea’s contract expires at the end of the season: Will he continue with Kawasaki?
Jonathan Rea has been wearing the colour green since the 2015 WSBK season. After riding for Honda for six years and taking 15 race wins, Rea’s switch to Kawasaki broke the knot. From 2015 to 2020, Rea and Kawasaki celebrated six world championship titles in a row and rewrote the history of the World Superbike Championship. But will this dream marriage continue in 2023?
There will be a break of four weeks until the next WSBK event in Donington, which will be used for contract negotiations. Do Rea and Kawasaki also agree to continue working together in the World Superbike Championship?
“The 2023 season is still a long way off,” notes Rea, who definitely wants to continue his career: “It’s exciting and makes me nervous at the same time, because my contract is running out. Of course it’s exciting to think about what will happen next. But I haven’t met with my team to discuss it yet. “
“I respect that we are focusing on the championship first. In these four weeks, we should talk about how to go forward. I’m looking forward to it,” said the record-breaking World Champion, who will be 36 by the start of the 2023 WSBK season.
“If you had asked me three or four years ago, I would have been pretty convinced not to race by now. But I still have so much fire in me and can still give so much. So I can’t wait to agree something for 2023,” commented Rea.
Anything other than a Kawasaki contract extension would be a big surprise, as the other manufacturers already have top riders under contract or are close to contract extensions.
On the other hand, Rea has repeatedly criticised the lack of progress in the development of the Kawasaki ZX-10RR in recent weeks. Especially in terms of engine performance, Rea demands clear improvements.
“I owe a lot to Kawasaki,” notes Rea, who is considered very loyal. “They made it possible for me to win my first world championship in 2015,” recalls the future record champion.
