BREAKING: Jonathan Rea will leave Kawasaki at the end of 2023

Jonathan Rea will leave Kawasaki at the end of the 2023 WorldSBK season.

Jonathan Rea will part ways with KRT at the end of the year after nine years with the manufacturer. He will leave Kawasaki mid-contract, ending the historic partnership one season early.

Rea has won over 100 races in his nine years with the team, first signing in 2015 after moving from Honda. The 36-year-old would take six consecutive WorldSBK titles with KRT, becoming the most successful WorldSBK rider of all time.

Jonathan Rea is currently third in the 2023 WorldSBK Championship, behind Toprak Razgatlioglu. The highlight of his season came at Most, taking his first win of the season in race one. 

There is no official announcement on where Rea will move to next season with Razgatlioglu moving to BMW. This leaves a vacant seat at Yamaha for next season which has yet to be filled and Rea was rumoured to be in talks with the team.

Rea said: “I want to thank everyone at KMC and KRT for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to prove myself at the highest level. I have learnt and grown so much as a person and a rider since the first day throwing my leg over the factory Ninja ZX-10R superbike.

“Winning six consecutive WorldSBK Championships will always be the most obvious highlight of my time with Kawasaki; but it will also be the amazing memories, the life lessons, and the laughs that I will take with me into the future. And, for sure, it’s our mission to complete the 2023 season as strongly and with as much commitment as we have always shown. 

“Now, looking back on our journey, it fills me with pride at the joy and happiness we have brought Kawasaki fans and Kawasaki owners around the world. This is not a goodbye, because you don’t say goodbye to family, but it is simply the end of this incredible chapter. 

“I wish everyone at KRT the best of luck for the chapters that will surely follow. See you at the track.”

KRT Team Manager Guim Roda added: “In life as well as racing, priorities define the path to follow. I am very happy and proud that during these nine years Jonny has defined his priorities with KRT and has given us so many successes. I consider myself, our team, Kawasaki and all our fans worldwide, privileged to have been part of this journey. 

“Whichever direction he goes in the future, I hope he can continue to grow as a rider. The task we have now is to finish the 2023 season as best we can with the tools we have been able to forge this year. As always, we will continue to look for improvements and seek advantage wherever possible. 

“KRT is committed to putting on a good show with Johnny during his last four races on the formidable and impressive Ninja ZX-10RR that he has become synonymous with.”

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