Six-time SBK world champion Jonathan Rea is at a crossroads. At 38, his contract with Yamaha expires at the end of 2025, and his future remains unclear. After two complicated seasons, marked by injuries and a lack of feeling with the Yamaha R1, the Northern Irishman refuses to bow out on a sour note. In an interview, he confided: " I don't want to end my career in a negative way. I want to be competitive.. » But without an exciting project for 2026, he does not rule out retirement: " If nothing exciting comes up, I'm willing to stay home. »
The future of Jonathan Rhea remains pending. His contract with Yamaha expires at the end of 2025, and for the moment, no decision has been made on a possible extension. The six-time Superbike world champion, who has had complicated seasons since his departure from Kawasaki, keeps the desire to run but refuses to end his career on a negative note.
Sale entrusted to speedweek that he was no longer at the center of discussions concerning the pilot market: " before Toprak joined BMW, I was always one of the first to be approached. This is no longer the case. I am no longer a priority. »
To find his place, Sale wants to first concentrate on his performances with the Yamaha R1 of the Pata Maxus team: " I want to regain confidence, like during the winter. I was competitive, capable of aiming for the podium. Today, I have not yet managed to show my true potential. I still lack the right feeling »
Jonathan Rea: “ I don't want to end my career like this »
The former world number one does not hide his frustration: " My team can't help me get that feeling back with the Yamaha. We're making progress, but it's strange. I want to be competitive, but I don't feel like I'm doing my job properly.. I can't get the Yamaha to where it should be. »
Injured at Phillip Island at the start of the season, Sale struggled to regain his form. Now recovered, he hopes that the next meetings in Misano et Donington will allow it to reposition itself.
Jonathan Rhea keeps the option of retirement open, in his own words: " I don't want to end my career like this. I want to be competitive. But if nothing exciting comes up, I'm ready to stay home. I will make a decision after Donington. »
The pilot of 37 years still secretly dreams of being able to ride one day on a Ducati Panigale V4 RBut he knows that time is against him. If the results aren't there in the next few races, the decision could come sooner than expected.
