Superbike legend Jonathan Rea retires: a dream trophy cabinet for the Northern Irishman
Jonathan Rea, an undisputed WorldSBK legend, has officially announced his retirement from competition. In an emotional and proud speech, the six-time world champion explained the reasons behind a decision that had been building for some time: the awareness that he could no longer consistently fight for victory.
Rea’s words
Through an Instagram video, Rea announced his retirement:
“I’ve been reflecting on this moment for a while, and in the end I chose to stop. Racing has meant everything to me: as a kid, I only dreamed of riding bikes and winning races and titles in WorldSBK. I’ve always approached this sport with a single goal – to be at the front. I never wanted to race just to fill the grid, but only to fight and win. Today I feel it’s the right time to listen to my body, my head, and above all my instinct. If I can no longer be competitive, I’d rather stop. My love for this sport remains unchanged, just like the very first day, and looking back I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved – results I never could have imagined as a boy.
It’s not the records or trophies that matter most, but the people and memories I’ll carry with me. I’ve been lucky to work with amazing teams, sponsors, and engineers who made this journey possible. I owe everything to my family: my parents and brothers for their sacrifices at the beginning, my wife Tarsh and our children Jake and Tyler for always being there, through the good days and the tough ones.
I also want to thank my rivals, because their challenge made me a better rider. And above all, thanks to the fans, for the support and loyalty shown at every stage of my career: without you, none of this would have been possible.
I’m retiring from racing, but not from motorcycling. I’ll remain part of this world, just in a different role. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all – it’s been an incredible journey. See you again… in the paddock.”
A record-breaking career
Rea leaves racing with extraordinary numbers, making him one of the most successful riders ever in the history of production-based motorcycles:
- 6 consecutive world titles (2015–2020)
- 119 race victories
- 264 total podiums
A dominance built primarily with Kawasaki, the team with which he wrote WorldSBK history, before moving to Yamaha for his final seasons.
