Hanging up the Leathers

The end of the 2025 FIM World Superbike Championship (WSBK) season will mark the end of the career of Jonathan Rea, one of the greatest WSBK riders of all time.

- Gaurav Davare

One thing about sportspersons’ careers, especially those who have made history in their respective sport as all-time greats, is that nobody can beat Father Time.

It’s a circle of life that every athlete and their greatest fans around the globe have to come to terms with, which makes it all the more reason to cherish and celebrate their achievements. That moment has arrived in the FIM World Superbike World Championship as Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) has announced that he will retire from full-time competition at the end of the 2025 season, marking the culmination of an iconic era.

The statistics speak for themselves. Six titles, 119 victories, and 264 podiums, making him the greatest WSBK rider of all time. Of course, numbers are one thing, but it’s been a long journey for the Northern Irishman to get to this point.

Racing has been in the Rea family. Jonathan Rea’s father, Johnny, competed at the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy and was victorious in the 1989 Junior TT race. His grandfather, John, was a sponsor for Joey Dunlop. Like a lot of motorcycle racing greats, Jonathan started out racing in motocross, with Red Bull backing him for most of it. It was only in 2003 that he switched over to circuit racing, starting with the British 125-cc championship.