World Superbikes: Rea ready for 'emotional' final weekend with Kawasaki
Jonathan Rea admits it will be an 'emotional' weekend, as he prepares for his final race as part of Kawasaki Racing Team in Spain.
Rea, along with team-mate Alex Lowe, will take part in the final round of the 2023 World Superbike season at the Circuito de Jerez in southern Spain from Friday to Sunday.
It will be Rea’s final one in KRT colours after securing six championships on Ninja ZX-10R or ZX-10RR machinery since he joined the team in 2015.
There has been a significant break in the calendar since the penultimate round was held in Portugal in late September, giving all inside the KRT squad time to work on their combined strategy to take on the originally unplanned - but now very welcome - inclusion of Jerez as the venue for the final round.
This weekend is, of course, of great significance for six times world champion Rea, his crew and all inside KRT. Foremost in everyone’s mind, however, is working towards ending their peerlessly successful working relationship on as high a note as possible.
“It's a strange feeling going to Jerez knowing that it is my last round with KRT and I am sure it is going to be an emotional weekend together with the staff," admitted the Antrim rider.
"On track we will try to do the best job we can. It's a track that perhaps has been a difficult one for us, but we've also shared some great times there, winning races. It was also the scene of winning my first World Championship for Kawasaki. We do a lot of laps there in the winter tests so we have a good idea of set-up.
"Of course, the Ninja ZX-10RR has evolved throughout the year and we have made steps in a positive direction. I really want to finish the year strongly for my team. We're still fighting for third place in the championship. The big target of the weekend is to enjoy riding the bike and do the best job we can but also to ensure we deliver that top three in the World Championship," he added.
"I want to really try to enjoy the weekend with my team. All the build up to the weekend, all the weekend, and of course post-race, reflecting on what an amazing partnership it has been - I am sure it's going to be an emotional one.
"I hope I can give a good account of myself and do the team proud.”
Rea has won a race already in 2023, despite a relatively tough start to the season, and has been building momentum - and his podium count - as the year has progressed. He has now taken seventeen podiums, including that race win at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic, in late July.
He's third in the championship standings on the eve of the final round, some 50 points clear of the rider in fourth place.