Six-Time WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea to Retire at End of 2025 Season

By News Desk • 3 months ago •

Six-Time Jonathan Rea, the most successful rider in the history of FIM Superbike racing, has announced he will retire from full-time competition at the end of the 2025 WorldSBK season. The Northern Irishman’s decision marks the closing chapter of an extraordinary 18-year career.Rea’s career soared in 2015 when he switched to the Kawasaki Racing Team and the ZX‑10RR. In that season alone, he notched his first WorldSBK win on his new machine at Phillip Island and quickly constructed a legacy-building run: six consecutive Riders’ Championships from 2015 to 2020, along with 104 victories and 221 podiums—numbers unmatched in WorldSBK history.

Six-time Champion Jonathan Rea pulled off a masterstroke at Most with an intermediate tyre gamble to end his long winning drought in race one.

In 2024, Rea made a shock move to Yamaha, where he continued to impress with strong performances, including a rainy Assen pole and a podium on home soil at Donington Park. However, a challenging start to the 2025 season due to injury and performance inconsistencies led Rea to make the heartfelt decision to step away from full-time racing.In a moving message shared on social media, Rea reflected, “This sport has been everything to me… I raced to be the best. The time has come to listen to my body, my mind and, most importantly, my instinct. If I can’t race to win, then it’s time to step away.” He added: “Whilst I’m stepping away from full-time racing, this isn’t goodbye. I’ll always be part of this sport, just in a different way.”

Jonny Rea.

Yamaha Motor Europe also paid tribute to Rea’s achievements. Andrea Dosoli, Division Manager in Yamaha’s Motorsport Division, said, “Jonathan is an extremely talented rider who has done remarkable things in his 17 years racing at the highest level… To fight against a rider of this level for World Championships was an honour for us all. We will continue to push hard in our final four races together.”