WorldSBK Yamaha boss Paul Denning on signing Jonathan Rea: “We were fierce competitors, it produces antagonism”
But today, at Tuesday’s 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:WorldSBK Jerez test, Rea pulled on the bl💖ue colours of Yamaha to finally work alo𒅌ngside his new boss.
Den𝕴ning remembers trying to sign Rea f𒁏or Suzuki in British Superbikes a long time ago.
“I tried to🀅 sign Jonny in 2007 on our Suzuki in BSB and ♛failed as he took a different path then,” Denning said.
“But it worked out well for himཧ as it ♐got him into the World Championships and here he is now as a six-time World Champion.
“There’s no complaints on his decision then!”
Even a year ago, it was difficu♔lt to imagine Rea leaving Kawasaki, the team that he will remain synonymous with.
“I’m really excited! It🌜’s a very short transition I h💖ave to say, from the emotion of Sunday and 24 hours later, taking pictures of Jonathan Rea sat on our bike,” said Denning.
“It’s kind of surreal, almost too quick a transition – also for him, ꧙to be jumping out of green after eight years.꧂
“However, here we are, they are the logistics, ꦑwe’re here at the test and I couldn’t be more excited.
“🍨We🃏 had a great day yesterday, like an introduction day, working together in a physical way.
“I am absolutely in✅trigued to see what today and what the next day briꦕngs as part of the first part of the journey.
“Of course, over recent years, particularly when Toprak joined us but also when Alex Lowes and🅘 Michael van der Mark were with us, we were kind of fierce competitors and that tend🔴s to produce antagonism and a sort of feeling of not being exactly best friends as you just want to beat each other.
“Especially ⛄with the Toprak story of 2021 and beyond.
“It’s been a🥂 real pleasure to get to know the person 💟behind the competitor, his family and the process was stressful but strangely enjoyable. It’s quite a surreal moment.”
James was a sports journalist at Sky ꧂Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
