Six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea has today announced that he is to retire at the end of the 2025 season. The Pata Yamaha rider is to bring to a close the most successful career in World Superbike history, the Northern Irishman ending his active racing career with six WorldSBK titles, 119 victories in WorldSBK, and 3 wins in World Supersport.
Like so many other great circuit racers, Jonathan Rea started his career riding a motocross bike. He had great success as he rose through the junior ranks, before making the switch to short circuit racing in 2003. That proved to be an enormous success, attracting the attention of Red Bull, who backed him through a large part of his career.
In 2005, at the age of 18, Rea raced in the British Superbike championship for Honda. He won his first BSB race in 2007, ending the season as runner up to Ryuichi Kiyonari and earning a move to World Supersport for the 2008 season with the Hannspree Ten Kate team.
