Jonathan Rea hoped that this 2022 season in WSBK would only be the only opportunity to reconnect with the number 65 from his beginnings, before returning to the number 1 which accompanied him for six seasons in a row. But that was before Toprak Razgatlioglu transformed the Yamaha R1. And before Alvaro Bautista reconnected with Ducati. Since these two events, the Kawasaki official realizes that he is not close to regaining his supremacy, at least as long as his Ninja remains in this state. He therefore calls on the Akashi brand to react, by putting a lethal weapon in its dealerships, as Ducati dared to do, even though it is an industrially and economically much less powerful manufacturer...
Jonathan Rhea knows there are still 124 points up for grabs from the remaining six races of its WSBK championship in Indonesia and Australia in November. The championship leader Alvaro Bautista has a lead of 82 units over Toprak Razgatlioglu and his Yamaha while on his Kawasaki, the Northern Irishman is 98 lengths. Mathematically, nothing is decided. However, the Spaniard with the Panigale V4R can already become world champion during the first race in Lombok: to do this, he will have to score 18 points more than Razgatlioglu.
Sale scored the last of his 117 victories to date at Estoril on May 22. In view of the above, he is only considering the status of vice-champion at the end of a season where he hoped to regain his throne. So, obviously, it affects his morale: “ I am disappointed with the general situation, we are not competitive enough ", said the factory rider of the, ZX-10R on speedweek.
Jonathan Rea warns Kawasaki: “we are no longer the reference"
He adds : " but it's like that. Ducati and Alvaro as well as Yamaha and Toprak are doing incredible work. We need to improve, and the areas where we need to improve are obvious. We are no longer the reference ».
He adds : " everyone is evolving and responding to us. On some tracks this year we struggled with our hands tied behind our backs, it's frustrating. Other than that, I feel like I'm driving well. The team is doing their best and everyone in the box is doing well. We just can't make the improvements we need ».
Then he ends with this analysis: “ in a motorcycle racing championship based on a production machine, it all depends on what the manufacturer gives you. If you don't make sure there's a balance between manufacturers, it's easy to end up with one dominant bike. Nobody wants that, so I understand. But I would prefer that every manufacturer simply build the best superbike possible. But it's difficult when one motorcycle costs 17 euros in stores and the other 000. It's hard to please everyone ". This regulatory notification strongly resembles a call to Kawasaki to show a little more boldness.
