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World Superbike
MOTOGP: Rea Dreams Big
Jonathan Rea is aiming to take full advantage of his opportunity to learn a MotoGP bike and demonstrate his potential at the sport's highest level.
Jonathan Rea (Photo: Dorna Communications)
British rider Jonathan Rea said he will never forget the day he first rode the factory Repsol Honda RC213V of World Champion Casey Stoner.
That outing was at Brno in the Czech Republic today with Rea flying in overnight from Moscow following Sunday's World Superbike round.
Rea completed 60 laps as replacement for Stoner who is back home in Australia waiting to undergo surgery for serious ligament damage in his right ankle suffered at the Indianapolis GP.
The annual Brno test was held Monday after Sunday's dramatic Czech GP, which was narrowly won on by Honda rider Dani Pedrosa after a tense race-long battle with fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha).
Rea, 25, had no expectations for the test and comparisons with the regular MotoGP stars would be unfair after just his first day aboard Honda's awesome 1000cc RC213V.
Rea posted the eighth fastest time, a 1'59.59 with fellow Briton and former WSBK racer Cal Crutchlow the quickest at 1'56.46s on the Monster Tech3 Yamaha.
"Today was one of the best days of my life, I've been a Honda rider all my career, I'll remember this for a long time," Rea said.
Despite a frantic schedule to make the test from Russia Rea said he had no choice to but accept the offer from HRC.
He will now join the Honda team for a two-day test at Aragon in Spain next week with confirmation expected soon that he will replace Stoner in the Misano and Aragon GPs in September.
"It was a big decision for me because my priority is in Superbike, but this is a dream come true, not to just to come to this paddock for a race, but just to ride the best bike," Rea said. "I had to say yes. If I have to sacrifice something, and while the World Superbike championship is mathematically still possible, realistically it is not a big chance so I think I can concentrate somewhat on this.
"I'm young and motivated and excited, and when an opportunity comes you've got to man up and grab it with both hands."
That outing was at Brno in the Czech Republic today with Rea flying in overnight from Moscow following Sunday's World Superbike round.
Rea completed 60 laps as replacement for Stoner who is back home in Australia waiting to undergo surgery for serious ligament damage in his right ankle suffered at the Indianapolis GP.
The annual Brno test was held Monday after Sunday's dramatic Czech GP, which was narrowly won on by Honda rider Dani Pedrosa after a tense race-long battle with fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha).
Rea, 25, had no expectations for the test and comparisons with the regular MotoGP stars would be unfair after just his first day aboard Honda's awesome 1000cc RC213V.
Rea posted the eighth fastest time, a 1'59.59 with fellow Briton and former WSBK racer Cal Crutchlow the quickest at 1'56.46s on the Monster Tech3 Yamaha.
"Today was one of the best days of my life, I've been a Honda rider all my career, I'll remember this for a long time," Rea said.
Despite a frantic schedule to make the test from Russia Rea said he had no choice to but accept the offer from HRC.
He will now join the Honda team for a two-day test at Aragon in Spain next week with confirmation expected soon that he will replace Stoner in the Misano and Aragon GPs in September.
"It was a big decision for me because my priority is in Superbike, but this is a dream come true, not to just to come to this paddock for a race, but just to ride the best bike," Rea said. "I had to say yes. If I have to sacrifice something, and while the World Superbike championship is mathematically still possible, realistically it is not a big chance so I think I can concentrate somewhat on this.
"I'm young and motivated and excited, and when an opportunity comes you've got to man up and grab it with both hands."
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