The French WorldSBK marks the primary race of Jonathan Rea’s profession for the reason that announcement of his retirement from racing – one thing he admits is a “unusual” feeling.
Rea made the announcement that he’ll retire from full-time racing on the finish of this yr throughout the World Superbike summer season break and with 4 races remaining within the 2025 season – the primary being the French Spherical this weekend (5–7 September).
The Northern Irish rider feels it was necessary to make the announcement earlier than the tip of the summer season break to scale back the strain on himself within the closing a part of the season.
“It’s race week and so unusual – after asserting my retirement on the finish of 2025 – will probably be the final time that I’m going to race at Magny-Cours,” Jonathan Rea stated.
“I’ve combined feelings, and while it’s one thing I’ve been enthusiastic about for a very long time, it was necessary to share the choice in the summertime break with the only real goal of arriving in France with none strain and to offer a extremely good account of myself and the Yamaha R1.”
Magny-Cours is considered one of Rea’s most profitable circuits, having gained 9 instances there.
A tenth win this weekend would make him the one rider in WorldSBK historical past to have gained 10 instances at three totally different circuits – one thing Toprak Razgatlioglu may additionally obtain this weekend.
Nonetheless, Rea’s most up-to-date recollections of Magny-Cours are much less optimistic, having suffered an advanced thumb damage in a Race 1 crash there final yr.
“Magny-Cours is particular for a lot of causes and I gained my first title there, however final yr was marred with damage after I wanted surgical procedure on my thumb after crashing in Race 1 with Bulega on the closing chicane,” he stated.
“This yr I hope to place the ‘demons’ of 2024 to mattress.
“I actually benefit from the monitor – it fits my model and it fits the Yamaha R1 as effectively. It’s a circuit the place you should have a motorbike that modifications course very effectively, turns and is maximised within the braking space.
“I’m trying ahead to working by way of Friday with the crew – like most Magny-Cours weekends, now we have to concentrate to the climate as a result of in September you’ll be able to expertise tremendous excessive temperatures or showers and rain.
“We have now to be ready no matter comes our method.
“It’s going to be a particular weekend and I’m trying ahead to getting began after the lengthy summer season break with out driving, so simply step-by-step at first and attempt to sharpen the set-up to be prepared for the three races over the weekend.”
