WorldSBK: Jonathan Rea close to an enormous switch to Yamaha for 2024?

Are we about to see Jonathan Rea announce a shock move to PATA Yamaha? Motorsport Radio sources say the six-time World Champion has already met with the team for secret talks following the recent Imola round.

If a switch is to be announced as early as this weekend, It could pave the way for Scott Redding to join Kawasaki after delaying an announcement over his future during the last round.

In 2015 Jonathan Rea joined the Kawasaki Racing Team to begin what would be a successful nine-year partnership. Taking six World Championships and 103 race wins with the Japanese factory, he’d be unstoppable until 2021. 

Recently, results have not been as great, since the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR in 2021, whilst the base model of the bike ages, something Rea has touched on various times this year. In 202,2 Rea only took six race wins, compared to his 17 race wins in 2019, where he took his fifth WorldSBK title.

Why could he leave?

With results dipping and Rea unable to win a race in the first half of the 2023 season, it is clear that Rea and Lowes are frustrated. In 2021, a rev limit was put in place – limiting Kawasaki to 14600rpm.

This limit was eventually lifted at Barcelona this year with the ZX-10RR engine able to gain an extra 250rpm, whilst it was repeated ahead of Imola two weekends ago. However, Kawasaki announced in Italy that they would not use this and instead wait for a new upgrade on the engine so that they could use the newly-allocated revs, with a camshaft seemingly being the part. This will mean that Rea would have to wait until after Magny-Cours at the start of September for it.

“500rpm helps as you can be more aggressive with the final gearing, be much shorter with the acceleration as you have more over-rev,” said Rea in his media debrief at Imola, reported by the official WSBK website. “I guess with the camshaft, this will be a better spec so maybe we’ll generate more power but I don’t know. I’m surmising now, so speak with the team.

“I don’t understand my team or Kawasaki’s direction with this is though, because obviously, we need to get concession points first before we can get this final piece, but the idea is to be on the podium and trying to fight for race wins which doesn’t get the concession points needed; we need to be competitive. I hope we don’t get it because I hope that means we’re doing a good job and don’t need them. It’s a strange one.”

It may not just be Rea that Kawasaki could potentially lose, with the Puccetti Racing threatening to also leave Kawasaki. Puccetti said: “Unfortunately, Kawasaki is going through a very difficult time, and the situation is quite critical in terms of results. Rea is riding beyond the limit, pulling out all the stops but it’s not enough.”

Where would Rea go?

With WorldSBK being as competitive as ever as British Superbike and MotoGP riders entering the series, seats are quickly filled. However, one seat that the whole grid has their eye on is the PATA Yamaha ride. 

With Toprak Razgatlioglu making the shock move to BMW in 2024 it leaves his seat to be filled. 

German media have also reported that it is now becoming apparent that Rea is discussing terminating his contract with Kawasaki and potentially moving to Yamaha. His manager, Chuck Aksland, was on-site at Donington Park in July with rumours circulating around the paddock. If this move was to happen, it would arguably be the biggest rider move in history, with Rea’s contract not due to run out until 2024.

Who could replace Rea?

Since joining BMW in 2022 Scott Redding has had a tough time with the German manufacturer. With no podiums so far and currently 15^th in the championship in 2023, Redding planned to announce his future on Sunday at Imola. This planned announcement from Redding led to Loris Baz saying his own future depends on what the #45 does.

However, Scott Redding took to social media saying instead after the round, in a big change of plan which could replicate the behind-the-scenes drama in green: “I’ve had more DMs about what I’m doing next year than when I’ve had a good result from racing! I said at Imola the news will be coming out on Sunday. All I can tell you is that I will be staying in World Superbike. That’s all I can give you. I really appreciate that you guys want to know what I’m doing, but it still can’t be said what’s going on. I’ll be staying in the World Superbike paddock, so see you there again.”

German media also reported that if Rea and Kawasaki were to split it would leave the door open for Redding. As it is understood that previous talks between Redding and Kawasaki have already taken place.

Image credit: worldsbk.com