‘Retiring Rea’s records could stand test of time’

“Watch what happens,” you say.

Few could have predicted what would have come after the 21-year-old Jonathan Rea, who was just starting up his first World Superbike race in 2008, uttered those words.

Rea made his big name on the road by winning the World Supersport Championship and the British Superbike Championship on his Portugal debut.

It represented the upcoming success. Rea was a novice, but she was still quick and accurate. He developed into one of the greatest men who ever existed once he was refined.

He will now hang up his helmet after breaking every book record, 17 years later.

Rea would win his first race for Honda in Misano in 2009 following a strong debut.

The Northern Ireland rider would continue to win races and exhibit flashes of brilliance, but eventually he would struggle to put together a championship challenge.

Before he switched to Kawasaki in 2015, that is when. Tom Sykes and Rea were put together by him, but it wasn’t long before Rea’s team started dominating the first half of the season on his way to the title.

Over the following three years, he overcame Carl Fogarty’s record of four titles held by him.

Alvaro Bautista, a former MotoGP rider, and a switch to three races per weekend as part of the 2019 season were both presented with new challenges.

Rea, however, rallied, and he won the title of fifth overall in the second half of the season.

Due to the variety of factors involved, racing is unique in terms of consistency.

While the cream frequently rises to the top, riders can fall without warning, the weather can turn around, or they could get into an accident without their own.

It’s all a part of jeopardy, which is why it’s one of the world’s most thrilling sports.

There is also a higher chance of getting hurt while competing in motorcycles. It’s not for the faint-hearted to participate in a sport.

Only Rea has ever won as many MotoGP titles as Giacomo Agostini has in a row.

Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez, who both won seven and six titles, did not attempt to win any more titles consecutively.

Even Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton failed to win as many titles in succession in their most dominant era in Formula 1, where a strong car is important.

Rea’s accomplishments are so impressive because of this. At his best, he was almost unstoppable.

From 2015 to 2020 he took part in 164 races. He won 84 of them, which is an astounding 51%.

As he stood on the podium 143 times, his percentage increases to 87%, taking his total podium appearances into account.

His most memorable years with Kawasaki and his most recent two seasons with Yamaha won’t be remembered as much as Rea’s pomp, but they shouldn’t detract from his accomplishments.

Rea didn’t just defeat his rivals, though, as Kawasaki was the bike that set the precedent for his career, especially in his first four titles. He completely destroyed it.

Rea won the race against Sykes, Alex Lowes, and Leon Haslam, three riders who are both very talented and strong. Racers are always met against their team-mates.

The Northern Irishman lasted for six seasons, but no one could compare. Sykes finished 149, 51, 183, and 231 points behind Rea in their four years of collaboration. Haslam was 382 behind, and Lowes was 171 off in 2020.

While the lingering questions about what Rea could have accomplished in MotoGP will always be about the “what if?” Despite making two stand-in appearances for Honda in 2012, there is no denying his status as one of the greatest motorcycle racers all-time.

Joey Dunlop is widely regarded as Northern Ireland’s greatest motorbike racer and possibly even his country’s greatest sportsperson. He won 26 races at the fearsome and iconic Isle of Man TT.

Rea’s presence in that conversation, even if some people don’t mind, puts him even inainte of Dunlop.

25 years after Dunlop’s passing, Rea’s remarkable accomplishments will remain etched for many years.

Rea and his accomplishments will be reflected in the final four races of the season. Nobody in the World Superbikes paddock would consider it to be his last chance to win the podium, especially in the top step.