Jonathan Rea injury update – the six-time World Superbike Champion shares recovery details and pictures of his ankle fractures which will likely see him sidelined for the first three rounds of 2025 WorldSBK.
This comes after the Pata Yamaha rider crashed during pre-season testing at Phillip Island on February 17 leaving him with multiple fractures in his left foot, casting uncertainty over his return to competitive racing.
As fans and the motorsport community rally behind him, here’s Jonathan Rea injury update – what we know so far about his injury, recovery plan and the implications for his season.
The Phillip Island crash: What happened?
Rea’s crash took place at Turn 2 of the Phillip Island circuit during the opening day of a two-day test session ahead of the 2025 WorldSBK season.
Known for its high-speed and high-grip characteristics, Phillip Island has a reputation for punishing riders who misstep. According to Pata Yamaha team principal Paul Denning, the resurfaced track may have contributed to the severity of Rea’s accident.
The crash was described as relatively minor initially, but Rea was “unlucky” as his left foot became entangled with the bike during its somersaulting motion resulting in broken bones.
Denning reflected on the incident: “Phillip Island has a habit of biting you quite hard sometimes. It’s a very fast and high-grip circuit, but when that grip releases, it can lead to violent accidents.”
Injury details and immediate response
Following the crash, Rea was treated at the circuit’s medical center before undergoing further scans and specialist consultations. The ankle fractures were deemed severe enough to require surgery.
On February 23, Rea underwent successful surgery at Kingsbridge Private Hospital in Belfast under the care of Dr. Michael McMullan. The procedure aimed to stabilize the fractures and set the foundation for recovery.
Rea expressed gratitude to his medical team and supporters: “The surgery was successful, and I will continue my recovery at home with my medical team. I want to thank my team, my family, and all my fans who have been sending me positive messages during the difficult days.”
Jonathan Rea injury update: Gruelling ankle injury revealed
The road to recovery for Jonathan Rea is expected to be challenging. Days after surgery he shared updates via a vlog, revealing that he remains in a fixed cast with no weight-bearing allowed on his injured foot.
In a series of photos posted on his social media, Rea showed off his current situation which involved wearing a cast over his left foot as well as the structural damage that took place.
He also uploaded a picture of the screws inserted into his foot during surgery to fix the injury as well as a gruesome photo of the stitches involved afterwards.
Rea’s recovery plan includes advanced medical therapies such as ultrasound bone healing devices and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. These treatments aim to accelerate healing while ensuring safety upon his eventual return to racing.
Recovery timeline: Uncertainty looms
Rea described his condition as painful and emphasized that his recovery would be a day-by-day process rather than adhering to fixed timelines.
He admitted that medical professionals were not optimistic about an immediate return: “My target of getting back on the bike is – you always have a target to work to. But it’s day-by-day, week-by-week in these cases.”
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Yamaha Motor Europe road racing sporting manager Niccolo Canepa confirmed the Ulsterman will miss the first two rounds of the 2025 WorldSBK.
“We are missing Jonathan as he travelled to the opening round of the season fully motivated and with a growing confidence in the Yamaha R1 only to be sidelined by the testing crash,“ Canepa said in Australia.
“Unfortunately, the recovery time for the injury he sustained means he will not be able to race in Portimão next month. We extend our best wishes to Jonathan for a speedy recovery and hope to see him back soon.”
Impact on 2025 WorldSBK season
Jonathan Rea was ruled out of the opening round of the championship at Phillip Island.
While Rea will want to make a swift return after Yamaha confirmed it is returning to the Suzuka 8 Hours in 2025 and will choose a line-up that consists of MotoGP and Superbike riders, his return will not come at Portimao this weekend, and Assen on 11-13 April might also be too soon for a comeback.
The absence of one of WorldSBK’s most decorated riders marks a significant blow for both Rea and Pata Yamaha. Jason O’Halloran has been confirmed as his replacement for upcoming rounds.
