Jonathan Rea’s works Kawasaki contract was extended through 2024, allowing him to continue competing in the World Superbike championship for a further two seasons.
The six-time WorldSBK champion will extend his relationship with Kawasaki to 10 years in an effort to return the WorldSBK championship to the Japanese manufacturer after signing a new two-year contract that concludes at the end of the 2024 season.
Rea has been as brilliant as ever during the first five rounds of the 2022 WorldSBK championship, demonstrating that he still has more to offer. The 35-year old is currently second in the standings to Alvaro Bautista.
“I am really happy and excited to renew my contract with Kawasaki, to roll on for two more years,” said Rea on his contract extension. “It has been an incredible partnership; we have enjoyed so much success together that it is almost a natural progression.”
“There was not much negotiation needed to continue together from both sides. It was more a case of how much more motivation I had to keep racing at the highest level in the WorldSBK Championship.”
“It has been an incredible few seasons; more competitive than ever,” he added. “I have realised how motivated I am to continue and to continue fighting to win. Kawasaki gave me the opportunity back in 2015 to realise a childhood dream when I won the WorldSBK championship in the first year together.”
“As a partnership we are so solid, and I am looking forward to continue making memories and representing an incredible manufacturer and brand. My team is my racing family. I love everyone inside the team like my own family and relationships like that count for a lot in racing.”
Rea joined Kawasaki in 2015, won the championship that year, and then went on an unbroken run of title victories until he was ultimately deposed by Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu last year.
Rea was the subject of persistent rumours that Ducati was interested in signing him before he agreed on his new contract with Kawasaki.
Options for the Superbike legend were greatly limited however, as the current world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu with Yamaha and Bautista with Aruba.it Ducati had both committed to working together for another season.
