Pull the Pin, Just Ruthless ! I got acquainted with his name and awesome riding style when watching the 2005 BSB season review on DVD. I gained a big interest again in the series when GSE returned and the way Lavilla went on to take the title. This young lad from Northern Ireland was brilliant. Riding the Red Bull Honda Fireblade he managed to get pole position in Mondello Park at the age of 18. It was a tremendous performance considering the strong field in BSB as well as the level of factory bikes present. Ok, he ran a factory spec bike but did it anyway. He didn't get to savour his exploit though since he went off after just a couple of hundred metres. But it was already clear that he really had talent. He spent the 2006 season aboard the same bike with the same outfit and managed 4th overall with a couple of podium finishes.
For 2007, he got promoted to the HRC HM Plant factory Honda team to partner 2006 champion Kiyonari. An excellent season produced 16 podiums and 6 wins out of 26 races to land the runner up spot behind his teammate Kiyonari, who succesfully defended his title. Apart from this, he also won the Suzuka 300km race that year. By now, he had the superbike community courting him.Several options were presented to him ( e.g. a full factory ride at Xerox Ducati, one more season on the HM Plant Honda ) but surprisingly he signed a deal with Ten Kate to contest the World Supersport Championship. The deal stated that he would be moving up to World Superbikes for 2009 and 2010, whatever the outcome of the 2008 WSS championship. I thought it to be taking a step down instead of one up. After all, he already had been riding the 1000cc Honda for 3 years with a considerate amount of success. He did prove that he made the right choice. Challenging for the title until he got punted off by Harms at the penultimate round and by collecting 3 wins, JR returned the investment Ten Kate and Honda had put in him. during the final round in portugal, he swapped places with Kenan Sofuoglu within the Ten Kate garage. The 2007 WSS champion didn't seem to get to grips with the Fireblade and had been underperforming all season in World Superbikes. Johnny jumped on his bike, qualified on the front row and was running at the front battling for a podium finish until a crash ruined his chances. It was merely a sign for things to come.
2009 didn't start that good though. The new bike arrived very late which limited testing time before the season opener in Australia. For some reason, the handling wasn't good and like his teammates, Johnny couldn't bring home solid results and wasn't really on the pace. Unlike his teammates, Rea managed to break the downward spiral and came home in 3d place to claim a podium at Kyalami. Misano turned out to be the place where Johnny would open a winner's account. After a fierce battle with Fabrizio and Haga, Johnny won the second race and his first World Superbike race ever. At this moment, Johnny was the only Ten kate rider who was able to run at the front and it would stay that way for the rest of the season. In fact, during the second half of 2009, he was consistently on the pace, both in practice and races. At the Nurburgring, he added another victory. Going into the last round at Portimao, 4th place in the standings was still very much in sight. Even though a very strong finish to the season with a double podium result, he would come 4 points short for 4th place overall. 8 podiums, 2 wins, one 2nd and 5 thirds.What looked to become a difficult season at first, turned out to be a great rookie season on world level. Normally, this would suffice to run away with the title of "Rookie of the Year" but in 2009 there was one other rookie who did even better. This one simply took the crown and is off to MotoGP now.... 2010 looks very promising for Johnny. The competition is stiff but he definitely has a shot at the title. I'm already looking forward to Assen at the end of April.
What makes him so special for me ? I got the pleasure of seeing him ride during the opening round of the 2006 BSB season at Brands Hatch. He is so spectacular to see, it is amazing. Coming from moto-x, he has incorporated it somehow in his riding. I have hardly seen anyone else braking so many times with the back sliding and doing it on purpose. One other thing, just look at the picture at the top of the page. One of his favourite tracks, possibly the most, is Cadwell Park and the Mountain is always crowded with people because the bikes lift off. In 2007, JR had his picture taken with one hand in the air and the other on the handle bar...fantastic ! On top of all this, he is a genuine nice guy. When you see him, he is enjoying himself all the time, on and off the bike. A good sense of humour added to it and you have a very popular rider indeed. He is very quick, sometimes he seems to overdo it, but that's his young spirit. I also think it takes quite a strong character to say no to race a factory Ducati bike in WSBK at such a young age. The setting would have been perfect alongside Bayliss. He could learn so much from the master and no one would expect him to match him - although I think he might have at some occasions - and yet he decides to move to WSS. Very bold I'd say but very wise it turned out to be. I am relishing the thought that the motorcycle racing world can enjoy his antics for many years to come. Simply, I just love him.Johnny Rea, Just Ruthless !
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