Suzuka winner Jonathan Rea 'excited' for British return in World Superbike Championship
Jonathan Rea is back in World Superbike action at his home round of the championship this weekend at Donington Park, fresh from winning the iconic Suzuka 8-Hours race in Japan last Sunday.
The six-time world champion took on a new role as a test rider for Honda HRC after retiring from full-time racing in 2025 and is entered for round eight at the British circuit as a wildcard.
Rea joins the team’s regular World Superbike line-up of Jake Dixon and Somkiat Chantra at Donington, where he claimed his last podium in his first year as a Yamaha rider in 2024.
The 39-year-old said competing at the British round had long been part of his test programme with Honda and admitted he was “excited” to return to a track he knows so well.
“It was always part of the test programme to take part at Donington, so I’ve been excited about this for a long time,” said Rea, who was 10th fastest in free practice on Friday.
“The weather looks like it’s going to be fantastic this weekend so I really hope we get a good turnout.
“But looking forward to getting back on the bike and continuing on with analysing a few ideas we’ve come up with during the last few tests; I’m looking forward to getting under way.”
Rea’s primary role within the team is to help develop the machine, but the 119-time race winner admits it is difficult to escape his competitive mindset in a racing environment.
“When the lights go out it’s very difficult to think like a test rider because I am a hot-blooded racer, but it’s important we still do our job,” said Rea.
“We’ve got a lot of items to tick off the list and try and build some conclusions under race conditions about ideas we’ve been following through in the last three or four tests during the summer.
“I’m looking forward to it, and back at home there’s no better place to be.”