Crash ends Rea’s World Superbikes career early

After crashing out of the Superpole race in Jerez, Jonathan Rea’s World Superbike career came to an end sooner than expected.

After the final competition of the season in Spain, the six-time champion intended to retire.

He is unable to begin his final race, though, due to an injury sustained in the Superpole sprint race on Sunday morning.

Early in the opening lap, Rea and Australia’s Remy Gardner met and were taken out of the gravel on a stretcher.

The 38-year-old was declared out of his final race after suffering a “right knee sprain and contusion with functional impairment,” according to a statement from his Yamaha team.

The most prestigious World Superbike rider of all time is coming to an end in his racing career.

From his first championship in 2015 to his clinching victory in 2020, the Northern Ireland rider won six titles in a row.

In his World Superbikes career, he won a record 119 races and took home 264 podiums.