By Rubén Gómez Pena / Motosan.es
Jonathan Rea (Ballynure, 1987) is, figures in hand, the best rider in the history of World Superbike. Four titles and 71 victories support this claim. He has dominated the championship since signing for Kawasaki in 2015, winning all four titles on offer since then. But now, the arrival of Álvaro Bautista in the championship and the technological advancement of the Ducati Panigale V4 R are tarnishing his reign. A few days before facing the third round of the world championship, the Superbike world champion responded to Motosan during the media day at Motorland Aragón.
Question: After two rounds, how do you judge the start of the season?
Answer: Very strong. I feel very good with the bike. We improved over the winter, but unfortunately we had some difficulties winning races with Bautista coming into the championship with the new Ducati. This is a big challenge and what we should do is move forward step by step and try to reduce the difference. But so far, on two complicated circuits and with a big advantage in their favor, we have survived with six second places.
Q: Is Kawasaki at a better, similar or worse level than last year?
A: We are better. We have made improvements to the engine and chassis. There has also been an evolution in the stability of the bike, particularly when braking. There are a number of areas where we have improved.
Q: At first glance it seems that the Ducati is clearly the best bike on the starting grid, but on the track, do you also feel that way?
A: From a chassis point of view, it's difficult to say, because Álvaro is not at the limit yet. He doesn't need to push in the corners because he already has a big advantage with the engine power. Not only on long straights, but also on small accelerations. That's the feeling I get when I walk up to him and he shifts into another gear and moves away from me. It's frustrating because I know he doesn't have to take the same risks in the corners. But it also helps me get the most out of myself and my bike. And there will be circuits where we can make the most of our potential.
Q: Do you think the situation will change on other types of circuits?
A: Bautista is a great rider with great talent, but he rides a bike that has a great advantage. And that's something other riders like my teammate or the Yamaha guys say too. It's impossible to fight on the straights. We are maximizing the chassis, but even on twisty circuits like Jerez, Imola or Laguna Seca there will be areas of acceleration. We have to respond and improve as a team.
Q: And how come only Bautista can go fast on this bike?
A: Bautista is doing a great job and the other drivers are not at the same level. I don't know the exact reason, only they can know.
Q: And what do you think of a possible limitation of Ducati by Dorna, as they did with you, to balance the championship? Would the situation change?
A: It wouldn't be a big change. I don't know how much they would limit, but for example if they limit by 250 rpm they won't get anything, there would be no difference. I don't want to think about it too much anyway, because it's not my job. This is the task of Dorna and the FIM. It's funny because the fans can watch the races and say 'there is no fighting, neither in the turns nor when braking...', but we really have to congratulate Ducati for their excellent work. Currently, they are the benchmark in Superbike.
Q: Did you expect this level from Bautista?
A: Of course yes. He is a driver that I respect a lot. He was 125cc World Champion. And last year, with a private bike in MotoGP, he was able to be in the Top 5 from time to time, and regularly in the Top 10. He's a fast rider and I didn't have any particular expectations because that I knew perfectly well that it was going to be fast. But the surprise was not Bautista, but Ducati, who created a very competitive motorcycle.
Q: Is Bautista the biggest rival you've ever had?
A: He's not my rival right now because I can't even compete with him. He wins races within eight seconds of each other. For me, a rival is someone with whom you fight until the end.
Q: SBK races are becoming very predictable. For example, in 2012, as many as nine different teams won races. It seems unthinkable that more than three will do so this year. What can Dorna do to change that?
A: It's difficult for me to talk about it because it's not my job. In the past I heard from the outside that SBK was predictable because I was winning. But I won by a second and after a big fight. It was boring for people who weren't my fans. And now some of those who wanted me to stop winning are happy. But it's the same story as the previous four years. Or even worse.
Q: What is it like working with Leon Haslam as a teammate and are there any differences in the relationship compared to Tom Sykes?
A: There is more communication within the team. Tom and I had a lot of respect for each other, but we had totally different driving styles. And there were a lot of secrets in what we did. With Leon, everything is different: We accept that everyone is a good driver and we talk about the settings together. It's a good way to develop the bike. At the end of each weekend, we do a briefing with the engineers from each of them. This is something we also did with Tom, but which he decided to stop at some point. With Haslam, I was already doing it at Honda. It's also true that at that time, Sykes was my main rival. Haslam is too now, but we both have a rival above us, which is Bautista. So at the moment it is important that we both work together to give good information to Kawasaki.
Q: And what do you think happens to Chaz Davies?
A: It's hard to say, because I don't know the exact situation... Some journalists talk about physical problems, but when they talk to Chaz, he says it's not physical problems. It's a disappointing start. It would be some sort of consolation if he had a physical limitation that would prevent him from competing at a high level. He's failed a lot of tests, but going to Phillip Island and getting beaten by privateers... That's not Chaz Davies. He is a race winner and title contender. And his teammate is 20 seconds ahead. I hope he recovers because he is a good driver. I think he should be a match for Bautista.
Q: And what do you think of the young SBK riders, who could be world champions in the future?
A: I like what Cortese is doing, but he's 29 and you can't consider him young. There are no young drivers in SBK. I am struck by what Caricasulo is doing in Supersport, but he is not mature enough to take a step forward. I also think Van der Mark and Lowes are similar drivers and I couldn't say who has the better potential. Razgatlioglu is also talented, especially when you see his skills on the bike. This is something that has already been seen in other categories or simply during motocross training. There are several names, but I can't give you one. Cortese may be the safest bet, but he's on a satellite motorcycle.
Q: You are on the same team as Ana Carrasco. We saw you congratulate her when she won her title: What is your relationship like and what advice do you usually give her?
A: During the season we didn't talk much, but on the decisive weekend in Magny-Cours she was very nervous. It was a difficult weekend. Also, when you play a championship, you tend to think about winning the championship and nothing else. I remember conversations with Eva Blánquez (team press manager) and Ana giving advice on how to mentally handle this situation. I'm proud of her. And I'm absolutely sure that if the champion had been a boy, it wouldn't have had this worldwide impact. She is a great ambassador of SBK and Supersport 300 around the world. We'll see what happens this year: Winning a championship is difficult, but now she has the goal of winning again. I hope she gets there.
Q: Over the last few years a lot of people have wanted to see you ride a MotoGP: was there a real chance of that happening?
A: Seriously, no. I had a few conversations with Honda and Aprilia. But the signing of Jorge Lorenzo closed the doors of Honda to me and, in the case of Aprilia, the brand with which I had long conversations, I decided with those close to me to continue with Kawasaki in SBK. And I think I was right because, even if the current rankings don't show it, Kawasaki is the best, or one of the best teams in the World Championship.
Q: What do you think of what Marc Márquez has been doing in MotoGP for six years?
A: He’s an incredible talent. Not only from a riding point of view, but also from a mental point of view. Someone who crashes 3 or 4 times over the course of the weekend and then can win the race is exceptional. I love Márquez and I am one of his fans. I respect him a lot.
Q: And we also have Rossi who is racing at 40: do you see yourself competing at that age?
A: No, because I've been competing since I was five years old. Of course, it was not a world championship, but simple motorcycle races. Giving everything for this sport is tiring and when you form a family, other goals that you want to achieve in life present themselves. I don't want to devote my whole life to racing. Right now I think I'm at the peak of my career, and I even think this winter I took a step forward. But I don't know how much longer I can stay at this level. I think and hope for at least two or three more seasons. Every day I wake up, I have the desire to win and I pass it on to the team. As soon as I stop feeling this way, it will be time to stop.
Q: Last year Dani Pedrosa retired. He is a driver with whom you have a close relationship: How will you remember him in races?
A: Dani's situation is exactly the same as Noriyuki Haga's in Superbike: the best rider without a world title. He's a good person. When I had to replace Casey Stoner in 2012, Pedrosa was my teammate and he behaved very well with me. He cared about what I was doing and turned out to be a great guy. He was champion in the small categories and has an excellent track record. It's a shame he couldn't become MotoGP champion. I seem to remember him being very close to it in 2012... I will remember him as a great person and as the fastest rider who ever lived among those who were never MotoGP champions.
Read the original article that Motosan.es
Jonathan Rea and Ana Carrasco, celebrating their titles in 2018. Photo: Provec Racing
Cover photo: Rea, during the interview. Photo: Eva Blánquez – Kawasaki Racing Team
