WSBK – MNC Interview: Jonathan Rea, 2015 WSBK World Champion – KAWASAKI Occasions

Posted on by admin

MNC Interview: Jonathan Rea, 2015 WSBK World Champion

WSBK - MNC Interview: Jonathan Rea, 2015 WSBK World Champion - KAWASAKI Occasions

Site took advantage of the presentation – static, alas … – of the Ninja ZX-10R 2016 to interview Jonathan Rea, the No. 65 rider of the official Kawasaki team, No. 1 of the World Superbike in 2015 and, above all, man the happiest in the world ! Interview.

Site: Hello Jonathan. You are not 30 years old (not even 29) but you are world champion, you have a pretty wife, a cute boy, a second baby on the way … You would not be the happiest man in the world ?
Jonathan Rea: Yes I think so. I have achieved a wonderful balance between my personal life and my sporting life. I believe that my success this year is not only from my time at KRT (Kawasaki Racing Team), but also enormously from the fact that I am traveling with my family, which is very pleasant. This makes it possible to put certain things, certain results, good and bad, into perspective. Every morning when I wake up I realize how lucky I am to have this balance.

MNC: At the celebration of your title after the first round in Jerez, you paid tribute to two Northern Irish riders, Brian Reid and Joey Dunlop, by wearing their – real ones! – helmets. Besides the title of champion, what do you think you have in common? ?
J.R .: It’s very hard to answer because they rode a long time ago … I didn’t grow up and evolve with them, but being from Northern Ireland we all have the same desire to succeed. We come from a very small place, which implies many and long journeys from an early age in order to impose ourselves outdoors. We have to cross seas, do a lot of kilometers … This perhaps makes us a little more determined than the others. But I’m not sure because they are much older than me, it was another time.

MNC: The 2015 season was dominated by British riders. What makes you so fast? The British Superbike ?
J.R .: Yes, the BSB, in the years 2006-2009, saw the emergence of many talents. Leon Camier, Leon Haslam, Tom Sykes, myself, Chaz Davies … although no Davies has been through MotoGP. But Cal Crutchlow, Eugene Laverty … We’re all pretty much out of the same class. A promo which was very competitive and which is currently running worldwide. It is the perfect demonstration of the high level of British Superbike. We are lucky to have it.

MNC: In 2012, you replaced Stoner twice in MotoGP. Your results were very correct (8th in Misano and 7th in Aragon). Why the HRC didn’t hire you ?
J.R .: (Smile) I don’t know … ask them !

MNC: Like you before this year, Van den Mark is a rider who has made all his classes with Honda. He too is aiming for MotoGP … Shouldn’t he switch to Moto2 rather than ride the Fireblade in WSBK ?
J.R .: It’s hard to say … It all depends on his career plan. Personally, I have found a pleasant stability in World Superbike. He is no longer very young, he is around 24 years old (22 years old on October 26, Editor’s note). He would have to learn a lot of things, quickly, to be competitive in MotoGP. He might get too old. I’ve said it in the past, he’s a very good driver. He would definitely be fast in GP, ​​he would deserve good equipment. But will he have the opportunity? And what does he really want ?

MNC: We saw you congratulate Jacobsen on his first victory at Sepang. Do you give him little tips, practical advice ?
J.R .: Not really. I get along very well with his team leader Andrew Pitt (Supersport world champion in 2001 and 2008, NDLR), So I went to congratulate them both. I spent some time this summer with PJ, he’s a good guy and it makes me happy to see him succeed. But above all, I am a fan of great talent. I have good relations with Sofuoglu for example, and I also like to come and say "well done" when he finishes a good race. We watch all the Supersport races because we are then in the garage, between our two races. It’s easy for us to say hi.

MNC: Speaking of Sofuoglu, you posed with him for the 2015 champions’ photo. He was accompanied by his colt Toprak Razgatlioglu, titled in Superstock 600. You don’t want to take a Northern Irishman under your wing , or rather to train your own little "Ninja" ?
J.R .: I happen to work with a young British boy, Kyle Ride. He was entitled to a wildcard at Donington Park and was third. We try to find him a team in the world championship next year.

MNC: You’re his agent in a way ?
J.R .: (Smile) I don’t know if that’s the right term because I don’t make any money, I don’t ask him for a percentage! I help him, I advise him. I am a bit of his mentor if you prefer. I will watch him more closely next year, so that he can realize his full potential..

MNC: You already know his 2016 program ?
J.R .: He is expected to move from British Supersport to World Supersport, within a very successful team, but that is not yet finalized. We have to wait a little longer.

MNC: And you, which pilots especially inspired you when you were young ?
J.R .: Kevin Schwantz. Because he did amazing things riding a Suzuki, which probably wasn’t the best bike at the time. He drove despite injuries, with unwavering determination … Yes that’s for sure, Schwantz was my idol.

MNC: Did we see a video of you this summer with Jeremy McGrath? You liked her a lot too, no ?
J.R .: During my youth, he was my hero because I started out in motocross. I have always admired him for his Supercross titles.

MNC: Do you advise young people to start with MX and then move on to the track? Or should they start as early as possible on the speed circuit ?
J.R .: I think starting off with off-road gives you a very good understanding of the bike, all of its movements. Taking motocross lessons provides very useful skills to become a pilot.

MNC: You spent six seasons on the Fireblade, waiting for it to change. This year you spend at Kawasaki, you win the championship … and evolve! You are not afraid to upset the subtle balance found in 2015 ?
J.R .: No, because the world is changing, and you have to change with it. And then, I feel that the 2016 model is a very good development which will allow us to correct our weaknesses. Obviously, the winter tests are going to be difficult because we are going to have a lot of new things to try, we will have to find the right balance on the bike. But we should stay strong next year.

MNC: Last winter, you took Loris Baz’s place. He’s a particularly tall pilot, and you’re not. Did your team leader, Pere Riba, put all his 2014 data in the trash? ?
J.R .: Yes and no. We have different driving styles, but at the same time, my driving is closer to Baz’s than Sykes’s. We knew a lot about the bike from their previous development, but the comparisons were very difficult. The driving position had nothing to do, it was much more forward. The bike did not have the same trim nor the same weight distribution. And I use traction control a lot less than he does too. These are the big differences.

MNC: Does not overdoing traction control help you save tires and finish races better? ?
J.R .: Yes, I handle the bike a lot more with my own hand. Especially when the throttle opens. I don’t hit my rear tire as much as other riders.

MNC: Would you say it was harder to win your first WSBK title five races before the end with a Ninja than to finish third in the WSBK championship with a CBR? ?
J.R .: No, I would say last year was harder, honestly! (laughs) Yes, because the material Kawasaki gave me this year was incredible. The strategy Pere Riba and the team used last winter to make me comfortable on the bike, to give me the right package, this strategy has been very good. We were able to capitalize on the first races, get very good results from the start and continue like this throughout the year..

MNC: The day after your coronation, you especially thanked your "electronic" engineers Paolo and Danilo, according to you the best in the world in their specialty. They stay in the team next year ?
J.R .: Danilo works with Tom and they both work really well. Paolo is staying with me next year. Both manage to make the bike particularly manageable. We are in very good hands from an electronic point of view.

MNC: Could you give us a definition of your Team 65? ?
J.R .: It’s me of course, my mechanics, my fans, my family, all those who support us. I think Team 65 makes me strong. We must not forget the motorcycle too.

MNC: Your team often sticks a message on your dashboard. Will the last of the season be "#PointsRecord" ?
J.R .: Yes, we may post a hashtag like that … I can actually beat the WSBK one-season points record because in 2002 Colin Edwards scored 552 points. I am at 528 and there are two races to go in Qatar … we will see !

To follow naturally on MNC: stay connected !

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *