Another history-making honour for record-breaking Rea
Last updated 27th Jan 2021
World Superbike superstar Jonathan Rea is the Adelaide Irish Motorcyclist of the Year for a record-breaking sixth time in a row.
Rea has now won Irish motorcycling’s top honour eight times to equal the achievement of road racing legend Joey Dunlop, who was an eight-time winner between 1979 and 2000.
Last year the Kawasaki rider picked up a history-making sixth successive World Superbike title.
Rea (33) received the famous Joey Dunlop trophy during a virtual online awards ceremony after the annual gala evening in Belfast was unable to be staged because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This is an incredible feeling,” said Rea. “I am gutted I can’t receive this trophy on the night because it’s such an amazing occasion every January when all the motorcycling industry come together under one roof.
“I receive so much support from the fans there and I will miss seeing them all. This is an unreal trophy which will once again take pride of place as the centrepiece in my home.
“To equal the record set by Joey Dunlop is also simply incredible. He was my hero growing up and to think I have won this award the same number of times as him is hard to believe.”
Rea clinched a record breaking sixth World title in a row during a season affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“2020 was a year like no other and the World Superbike organisers did so well to run the championship safely,” added Rea.
“It was a tough year for me starting the season with a crash but we hit the ground running in the middle of the season and I was able to bring the world title back to Northern Ireland again.
“I assure everyone I am planning a big assault on this new season. Kawasaki have a new bike, and I am excited about that as the potential is more than the previous model. But I am under no illusions how tough it will be with new challenges whether it be a bike or a rider or both.
“We start the season later this year at Assen instead of Australia, because of coronavirus. Assen is a track I love and I hope we can start the season on a real high in April.”