Northern Ireland great Jonathan Rea embracing Honda return as chance to ‘build something truly positive for the future' in test rider role
Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Rea is relishing the chance to “build something truly positive for the future” after a return to his World Superbike Championship roots in the role of Honda test rider.
The most successful rider in World Superbike Championship history thanks to six title crowns will now aim to pass on that wealth of knowledge with a position back at where he first started his path to glory in 2017.
Six consecutive World Championship honours arrived from 2015 to 2020 in the colours of Kawasaki before spending the past two seasons at Yamaha ahead of confirming a retirement decision this year from full-time racing.
Now the Ballyclare hero has announced a fresh challenge back at Honda.
“From the moment HRC shared their plans and the new role they envision for me, I was immediately excited to understand how I could contribute,” said Rea on the official World Superbike Championship website. “It feels like a real full-circle moment to return to Honda, the manufacturer with which I gained my initial WorldSBK experience and my very first race win in the category.
"Although my role will be quite different from what I’ve been used to as a full-time racer, I’m highly motivated to embrace this new chapter.
"My aim is to bring all the experience and knowledge I’ve gained throughout my career and use it to support the development of the CBR1000RR-R and the Honda HRC factory team in the best possible way.
"I’m also very happy to be working again with Chris Pike, the Honda HRC test team project manager and my former crew chief, with whom I share great memories and mutual respect.
"Working together as a team, I’m confident we can build something truly positive for the future...I can’t wait to get started.”
Yuji Mori, the Honda HRC team manager, celebrated Rea’s next step as “truly significant”.
“We are very pleased to welcome Jonathan back to our WorldSBK project and to the Honda family,” said Mori. “Having the most successful rider in WorldSBK history join us in a role as important as HRC test rider is truly significant for all of us and, we believe, for the series itself.
"Jonathan began his international career with Honda, and to see him return now with such a wealth of knowledge and experience makes this collaboration especially valuable and underlines our full and continued commitment to the Superbike project.
"His contribution will play an important part as we keep developing our programme and work towards bringing Honda back to the level we are aiming for in the championship.”