WorldSBK: Jonathan Rea had “thoughts about retiring, but right now I’m so motivated to win”

Jonathan Rea admits he’s previously had thoughts about retiring but that returning to winning ways in WorldSBK remains his main focus.
Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki WorldSBK Donington Park 2023
Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki WorldSBK Donington Park 2023

The six-time WorldSBK champion has not won a race so far this season and has subsequently endured his worst start to a season with Kawasaki since 2015.🐽 

Rea has remained competitive by often out-performing his machine🌄, however, those same brilliant performances have resulted in third or fourth place results, as opposed to wins like in previous seasons?

While Rea has still been more competitive than nearly the entire WorldSBK grid in 2023, his lack of sustained success became difficult to accept to the point where 𒆙thoughts about retirement were even had. 

"I’ve thought about retiring," Rea told . "When you find it hard to be really competiti🦋ve, I started to ask myself. I started to have tho𒁃se questions. 

"It’s tough because people question what I’m doing here, ‘he’s done enough’ or ‘why does he keep turning up?’ but right now it’s at that point where I still really believe in the progr💞amme I’m in💞. 

꧃"Hopefully we can find the way. I’m so motivated to win. I want to win again. I feel like I have so much mo🍃re left to give. I feel like I’m riding in the best shape I ever have. 

"I’m really busting my ass every lap. Right now, it seems far because it’s hard 🐷toꦛ be competitive but if you really believe that it’s possible, why not work?"

Instead of retirin𒀰g, Rea will be in WorldSBK until the end of 2024 at least, as he still believe♓s he can win races.

"I don’t have much else," continued Rea. "I’ve got my wife and kids at home but, aside from racing motorbikes, I have nothing. It’s my life. It’s all I’𝓡ve known since I 🔥was a kid, and I haven’t allowed myself to think what comes after. 

"Until that day comes where I don’t feel like I can be competitive, or maybe I’m not enjoying things i🦩n the same way, maybe I’ll think about walking aw𒉰ay. 

"When you’re not winning, you must take enjoyment frꦑom other areas and that’s🐠 tough. I’ve been through it. 

"I’m starting to learn to set smal🍷ler targets. Don’t just become obsessed about winning. Find ways to keep motivated."

Read More