World Superbike legend Jonathan Rea honoured with Lifetime Achievement accolade at Ulster Tatler Awards

The six-time champion received a standing ovation as he was presented with the award at Belfast City Hall on Thursday evening.

Rea, who won 119 World Superbike races during an unprecedented career, joins an illustrious list of past winners including Dame Mary Peters OBE, Sir James Galway, Brian Friel, Phil Coulter, Gloria Hunniford, Michael Longley, Gerry Armstrong, Barry McGuigan, Terri Hooley, Marie Jones, Ciaran Hinds, Pat Jennings, John Linehan, pianist Barry Douglas MBE, Pamela Ballantine, Ian McElhinney and last year’s recipient Paul Brady.

The Ballyclare man announced his retirement from full-time racing last year and embarked on a new role as a development rider for Honda Racing.

Ulster Tatler Managing Director Chris Sherry said: “In one of the most competitive sports in the world, Jonathan Rea has proved himself a world beater – time and time again.

“On a truly global stage, he has achieved feats in motorcycle racing that nobody else has – including six consecutive Superbike World Championship titles.

“Despite his incredible achievements, he remains a humble person, but he is highly respected within the sport and leaves an incredible legacy behind him – just as he left the countless rivals he has raced against!

“It is an honour for me to award this year’s Lifetime Achievement accolade to Jonathan Rea, whose name will now be added to our long and illustrious list of former winners, which includes fellow sporting legends Dame Mary Peters OBE, Barry McGuigan, Gerry Armstrong and Pat Jennings.”

Rea has competed at selected World Superbike rounds in 2026 as part of his role as a Honda test rider and won the legendary Suzuka 8-Hours Endurance World Championship race in Japan in the summer.

The 39-year-old made history when he became the first British winner of the Suzuka 8-Hours in 2012 and claimed another success during as part of the factory Kawasaki team in 2019.

Rea, whose father Johnny is a former winner at the Isle of Man TT, hails from a family steeped in motorcycle racing. His late grandfather John was one of Ulster road racing legend Joey Dunlop’s first sponsors.

After joining Kawasaki in 2015, Rea won six consecutive World Superbike titles to write his name into the history books.

He received an MBE in 2017 and OBE in 2022 in acknowledgement of his achievements in the sport, and in 2017 finished as the runner-up in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Outside of sport, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster in 2018 and one from Queen’s University in 2019.

He is married to Tatia and lives outside Belfast with sons Jake and Tyler.

Other big winners on the night, which was hosted by UTV presenter Pamela Ballantine, included Belfast actor Anthony Boyle (House of Guinness, Say Nothing) who won the Celebrity of the Year award, and middle-distance runner and 2024 European Athletics Champion Ciara Mageean from Portaferry, Co Down, who was voted Sportsperson of the Year.

Coleraine-born Iain Ross was presented with a Special Merit award for putting Northern Ireland baking on the map in the ‘Great British Bake Off’, whilst Alison Campbell, from Strabane in Co Tyrone, was recognised for her Outstanding Contribution to the world of fashion and modelling.

The Fashion Designer of the Year award was won by Dior’s creative director Jonathan Anderson from The Loup, outside Magherafelt, who famously designed Taylor Swift’s wedding dress this year. The award was picked up on the night by Jonathan’s father and former Ireland rugby captain Willie Anderson.