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WorldSBK

WorldSBK By October 18, 2018

Jono’s Making Milestones As He Seals Championship No.4

Magny Cours PR Strip 2

 

It’s been an incredible season and a massive four weeks for part-time Aussie, Jonathan Rea, setting milestones with round after round of outstanding performances on board his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

In France’s round 11 at the Magny-Cours circuit on September 29 he won his fourth consecutive Superbike World Championship after amassing an unassailable lead of 130 points with two rounds to go. It was an historic mark, with Jonathan being the first rider ever to take the quad.

Rather than basking in the sun and his success, Jonathan then charged on to the first world superbike race in South America at the new Circuito San Juan Villicum in Argentina last weekend, and carved up the competition. He won both Argentine showdowns to bring his 2018 haul to 10 victories in a row, another record for the affable rider and his Kawasaki squad, beating Colin Edwards and Neil Hodgson’s previous streak of nine consecutive wins in a season.

His Argentine success brings Jonathan’s season haul from 24 races to date, 16 race wins, 21 podiums and 13 fastest laps with one round, and two races, to go.

The year has been packed with stunning feats for the North Irishman who has close ties to Australia being married to Phillip Island’s Tatia Rea. The duo share two young sons who are both half Australian and even have their own house on the island.

While Australia is normally a happy hunting ground for Jono – as he is locally known – 2018 did not start so well. His Phillip Island appearances in round one were hampered by a severe flu and a pre-season finger injury. While he managed to podium, Marco Melandri and Ducati won the day. Rea was far from his best physically, and also had to master regulation changes supposedly designed to create more parity throughout the class.

But once Jono headed to Thailand, he was on his winning way and headed to Europe with a slight championship lead. Spain’s Aragon delivered one win, but the reverse grid race offered some challenges to Rea and he lost to Chaz Davies and the Ducati.

Assen delivered one chequered flag finish, but teammate Tom Sykes put in a stunning performance to win race two. Imola saw the first double victory of the year for Rea, and with his incredible pace around the technical Italian circuit, he was able to leave Italy with a 47-point championship lead.

The UK and Donington Park produced challenges and Rea was unable to hold off Michael van der Mark on his Yamaha. Brno in the Czech Republic was a weekend of ups and downs, experiencing ecstasy in race one as he took his 60th career victory to secure the overall win record in WorldSBK history, followed by heartbreak in race two with a DNF following a collision with Sykes.

But off the back of his DNF, he went onto win 10 races in a row and write his name into the record books in Argentina.

His record-breaking win charge started in the Californian sunshine at Laguna Seca, and he remained untouchable for round nine back in Europe at Misano.

After a nine-week summer break, Jono returned refreshed, taking both races in Portugal.

Then to Magny-Cours. He was on such a roll, it was hard to see anyone stopping him, and no-one did. He won both battles convincingly and secured his fourth world title to become the most successful rider in world superbike history. But there was no time to celebrate; Argentina was next and another two victories.

Next and last stop for the season is Qatar from October 25-27, and if you were a betting man you would have to put your money on the champ. An amazing effort if Jono walks away from 2018 with 12 wins under his belt, particularly in a season where the regulations were changed in an attempt to halt the Rea train.

There’s no stopping Jonathan Rea and we can’t wait to welcome him to his second home, Phillip Island, next February for the 2019 kick-off of world superbike’s triple-treat. Wonder if Jono can win all three races? You’ve got to be there so get your tickets now and we’ll See You Trackside!

setting milestones with round after round of outstanding performances on board his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

In France’s round 11 at the Magny-Cours circuit on September 29 he won his fourth consecutive Superbike World Championship after amassing an unassailable lead of 130 points with two rounds to go. It was an historic mark, with Jonathan being the first rider ever to take the quad.

Rather than basking in the sun and his success, Jonathan then charged on to the first world superbike race in South America at the new Circuito San Juan Villicum in Argentina last weekend, and carved up the competition. He won both Argentine showdowns to bring his 2018 haul to 10 victories in a row, another record for the affable rider and his Kawasaki squad, beating Colin Edwards and Neil Hodgson’s previous streak of nine consecutive wins in a season.

His Argentine success brings Jonathan’s season haul from 24 races to date, 16 race wins, 21 podiums and 13 fastest laps with one round, and two races, to go.

The year has been packed with stunning feats for the North Irishman who has close ties to Australia being married to Phillip Island’s Tatia Rea. The duo share two young sons who are both half Australian and even have their own house on the island.

While Australia is normally a happy hunting ground for Jono – as he is locally known – 2018 did not start so well. His Phillip Island appearances in round one were hampered by a severe flu and a pre-season finger injury. While he managed to podium, Marco Melandri and Ducati won the day. Rea was far from his best physically, and also had to master regulation changes supposedly designed to create more parity throughout the class.

But once Jono headed to Thailand, he was on his winning way and headed to Europe with a slight championship lead. Spain’s Aragon delivered one win, but the reverse grid race offered some challenges to Rea and he lost to Chaz Davies and the Ducati.

Assen delivered one chequered flag finish, but teammate Tom Sykes put in a stunning performance to win race two. Imola saw the first double victory of the year for Rea, and with his incredible pace around the technical Italian circuit, he was able to leave Italy with a 47-point championship lead.

The UK and Donington Park produced challenges and Rea was unable to hold off Michael van der Mark on his Yamaha. Brno in the Czech Republic was a weekend of ups and downs, experiencing ecstasy in race one as he took his 60th career victory to secure the overall win record in WorldSBK history, followed by heartbreak in race two with a DNF following a collision with Sykes.

But off the back of his DNF, he went onto win 10 races in a row and write his name into the record books in Argentina.

His record-breaking win charge started in the Californian sunshine at Laguna Seca, and he remained untouchable for round nine back in Europe at Misano.

After a nine-week summer break, Jono returned refreshed, taking both races in Portugal.

Then to Magny-Cours. He was on such a roll, it was hard to see anyone stopping him, and no-one did. He won both battles convincingly and secured his fourth world title to become the most successful rider in world superbike history. But there was no time to celebrate; Argentina was next and another two victories.

Next and last stop for the season is Qatar from October 25-27, and if you were a betting man you would have to put your money on the champ. An amazing effort if Jono walks away from 2018 with 12 wins under his belt, particularly in a season where the regulations were changed in an attempt to halt the Rea train.

There’s no stopping Jonathan Rea and we can’t wait to welcome him to his second home, Phillip Island, next February for the 2019 kick-off of world superbike’s triple-treat. Wonder if Jono can win all three races? You’ve got to be there so get your tickets now and we’ll See You Trackside!

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