Glenn Irwin says 'humble' and 'complete professional' Jonathan Rea is inspiration to aspiring young Irish motorcycle riders
Glenn Irwin has hailed World Superbike legend Jonathan Rea as the perfect role model for aspiring young racers hoping to climb the ladder in the sport.
Rea retired from full-time racing at the end of last season as the most successful World Superbike rider in history, winning six consecutive titles between 2015 and 2020 with Kawasaki and claiming 119 victories.
The Ballyclare man was the recipient of the Monster Energy Special Recognition Award at the Irish Motorbike Awards in Belfast on Friday night, but Rea was unable to attend the gala ceremony after travelling to Australia to be at his wife Tatia’s side following the passing of her mother, Barb.
Announcing Rea on stage as the winner, fellow racer Irwin described him “the complete professional”.
“He’s the complete professional and as a rider at the circuit, he’s incredibly locked in, his application to training in preparation for events,” said Irwin.
“How he is as a father and family person, he’s incredibly humble and how he does that job is equally good and professional as in how he races his bikes.
“He’s an extremely successful person but you wouldn’t really know it because he’s quite humble as well, so between being a multiple world champion and a great husband and father, and a very successful businessman, he’s stayed extremely grounded.
“He’s probably many things that I’m not and often when you get things wrong in life, you look at him and can be so disappointed!
“Any of the young guys that are in this room tonight and girls, for sure look up to what Jonathan has done and if you can take a little bit of what he has and apply it in your own career you’ll go very far.”
Rea has taken on a new role for 2026 as a test rider for the official Honda World Superbike team, raising the prospect of the 38-year-old competing in some races this year as a wild card.
There could also be the possibility of Rea replacing Thai rider and WSBK rookie Somkiat Chantra alongside new Honda signing Jake Dixon for the opening round at Phillip Island in Australia in February, after the Moto2 race winner sustained a fractured right arm in a spill at Sepang.
Rea is set to ride the Honda for the first time on Wednesday and Thursday this week at the first 2026 WSBK test at Jerez in Spain.
British Superbike rider Irwin – recently confirmed to be returning to the North West 200 in May on the Nitrous Competitions Ducati – said Rea would have a “good chance” of being in the mix as a wild card.
“I’ve been motocross training with him in Spain and he rides a motocross bike like he’s at round one at Phillip Island in World Superbikes!” he said.
“When you’re coming in as a wild card you’re probably not expected to do as well as the full-time guys, but he’ll probably be selecting Donington Park, Portimao – tracks he knows well – knowing that he has a good chance.
“It probably depends on what Honda expect of him. If they want to let him go and win, that’s one thing, or they might use him as a test mule, but either way he’ll probably not complain because he’ll be well looked after for that job.”