Jonathan Rea Out of WorldSBK Opener Following Testing Crash

Yamaha will be without WorldSBK legend Jonathan Rea at this weekend’s season-opener at Phillip Island, after the six-time world champion suffered a big fall that led to multiple foot fractures.

Rea suffered the fall on the first of two days of testing at the Australian circuit earlier this week, and Yamaha has remained tight-lipped on whether a replacement will be named. 

Following a horrid first season with Yamaha, Rea’s hopes of making a much better start to his second campaign with the Japanese marque are off to the worst possible start. Without Rea, the factory Yamaha team will again be relying on the experience of Andrea Locatelli with Paul Denning, team principal of Pata Yamaha, admitting if the opener was in Europe then a replacement would have been named.

Asked if it's possible to bring in a replacement, Denning said: “I think this weekend, no. We are still considering it. If we were in Europe then, yes, absolutely. But to bring a rider from Europe to Australia – even if they fly first thing [Wednesday] morning they’re not here until Thursday night with the time difference and the flight.

“And, with no testing and no experience of the package, it’s a big ask and could potentially cause more negatives than positives. So, of course we want to support the championship to the best possible level and to deliver as much value for our sponsors and partners; but at this stage, unfortunately being here in Australia, it’s not an easy step to replace the rider.”

Rea’s crash during the test led to a trip to the medical centre before it was revealed he suffered multiple left foot fractures.

Rea was one of two big names to suffer a crash at Phillip Island as reigning world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu went down hard after a highside aboard his BMW M1000 RR. The Turkish star, however, will be in action this weekend.

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