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🏍️ Jonathan Rea: The Six-Time Champ Who Just Can’t Quit! 😜

Hold on to your helmets, race fans, because the universe of World Superbike just got a massive, hilarious plot twist!

After a legendary, career-defining, SIX-TIME WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP run that had us all cheering, Jonathan Rea decided, “Okay, that’s enough glory. Time for the comfy slippers and a nice cup of tea.” He announced his retirement from full-time racing at the end of the 2025 season.

We all nodded sadly, ready to see him on the golf course or perhaps commentating in a nice, sensible blazer.

BUT WAIT!

Just when we thought the chapter was closed, Jonathan Rea pulled the ultimate “Psych!” move and announced he’s NOT leaving the paddock! He’s just changing his superhero cape!

The Return of the Rea-nassaince! 🤯

Yes, the man who brought Kawasaki (and lately, Yamaha) endless gold is making a SHOCKING return to his old flame: Honda!

That’s right! Johnny Rea is trading the frantic, full-time, elbows-out grind for a job where he gets to wear the coolest badge in racing: HRC Test Rider for their World Superbike project!

What does this REALLY mean?

Picture this:

  • The Retirement: “I’m done! I need peace! Quiet! No more speed!”
  • The Next Day (probably): “Wait, I actually love riding motorcycles really, really fast. And I miss yelling at engineers.”
  • The Honda Call: “Hey Jonny, want to ride our prototype and tell us what you think?”
  • Rea’s Inner Dialogue: “So… I get to ride a factory superbike, go flat out, and then I don’t have to worry about losing a championship? This is the perfect scam!”

Essentially, he’s not retiring; he’s getting a promotion to Chief Joy Rider and Speed Whisperer! He’s the guy who gets to push the bike to its absolute limit, then come back and say things like, “Hmm, the front end feels a bit too… un-champion-like,” and the engineers have to bow down and fix it.

It’s the ultimate power move: retire from the pressure, but keep the fun!

Here are the classic videos that prove the new role is truly a “full-circle” moment:

The Best of JR’s Original Honda Era: The Throwback Trilogy 📼

1. The Rookie’s First Taste of Glory

This is the moment it all started! Before the six World Superbike titles, Rea was a dominant force in World Supersport (WorldSSP). Watch the Northern Irishman grab his first-ever World Championship victory with Ten Kate Honda, setting the stage for his WSBK debut.

2. The Maiden WSBK Victory: A Photo Finish for the Ages!

Forget the dominance of the Kawasaki years; the first WSBK win is always the hardest. Rea was on the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda, battling the legendary Ducati duo of Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio right to the final lap. The finish line scramble in this race is pure adrenaline!

3. Honda’s Endurance Hero: The Suzuka 8-Hour Triumph

Proving his mettle beyond the sprint races, Rea anchored one of Honda’s most prestigious wins in endurance racing. This victory with the factory HRC team at the iconic Suzuka 8-Hours in 2012 solidified his status as an HRC favorite. Now, he’s back to test the bikes he used to win this grueling classic!

Enjoy watching the legend prove he’s been Honda royalty all along!

Get ready for the 2026 Season, where Jonathan Rea will be the most dangerous “retired” person in the paddock! We can already hear the Honda pit crew nervously awaiting his feedback!

Source

JR’s First World Championship Win (WorldSSP) at Brno 2008 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjYoEDv0CL0

JR’s Maiden WSBK Victory at Misano 2009 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo6ESUT3Ii0

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