
Rea out of Superbike opener after practice crash
Jonathan Rea will miss this weekend's opening round of the World Superbike Championship in Australia after sustaining multiple foot fractures in a crash during testing at the Phillip Island circuit.A statement from the 38-year-old's Yamaha Racing team said the six-time world champion had fallen in the closing stages of Monday's first test session."He was taken to the circuit medical centre before being transferred to Cowes for further assessment, where it was confirmed he had sustained multiple fractures to the left foot," said a Yamaha team statement."He will take no further part in testing or the race weekend."Rea is in his second campaign with Yamaha after a disappointing debut season for the team in 2024.The Northern Ireland man won six straight world titles with Kawasaki between 2015 and 2020 but opted to switch to Yamaha at the end of the 2023 season.

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Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Twice Superbike champ Razgatlioglu to ride for Pramac in MotoGP in 2026
June 10 (Reuters) - Twice World Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlioglu will make the switch to MotoGP in 2026 after agreeing to join the Prima Pramac Racing team, Yamaha announced on Tuesday. Razgatlioglu, the first Turkish Superbike world champion who is known for his showmanship and has 63 wins, won his first title with Yamaha in 2021 before making the switch to BMW, winning the title again in 2024. Pramac made the switch from Ducati bikes to Yamaha this season. Razgatlioglu is currently second in the 2025 Superbike championship. "Toprak, the most victorious Yamaha rider of all time in Superbike, has proven to be an exceptional talent, securing the WorldSBK Title twice, which is no mean feat," Paolo Pavesio, the managing director of Yamaha Racing, said in a statement. "His transition to MotoGP is both a 'homecoming' and an exciting new challenge that's been set up with the clear goal of progressive growth over time." Razgatlioglu had previously tested the Yamaha bike in 2023. Pramac currently have Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira as their riders this season, with Yamaha saying the 2026 lineup will be confirmed in due course. Current WorldSBK leader Nicolo Bulega is also set to join Ducati's MotoGP test team next year ahead of a potential switch in 2027 when MotoGP's new regulations come into effect.


Belfast Telegraph
02-06-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Michael Dunlop extends his Isle of Man TT record to 30 wins: ‘I just got my s**t together and got on with it'
The Ballymoney man had won the last six Supersport TT races on Yamaha R6 machinery, but he acquired a World Supersport Panigale V2 machine for 2025 and delivered the Italian manufacturer's first win at the TT since 1995, when Robert Holden won the Singles race. Dunlop, who was a Supersport winner on the Milwaukee Ducati at last month's North West 200, found himself over seven seconds down after the first lap of the three-lap race. However, he gradually reeled in leader Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) and went close to breaking his lap record for the class, recording a blistering speed of 130.313mph on the final lap. In the end, Dunlop was a dominant winner, pulling a gap of 10.229s over Englishman Harrison to open his account at TT 2025. It was a confidence-boosting end to the day for Dunlop, who had earlier missed out on a Superbike win by only 1.296s to Davey Todd. 'I think more importantly it's another manufacturer,' said Dunlop of his 30th win around the Mountain Course, where he holds the record for the most victories with different manufacturers – now seven in total after adding Ducati to his past wins for BMW, Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Paton. 'Obviously, the Milwaukee guys really wanted to make an effort with the Ducati and they wanted to win around the TT, and they had all faith in me to have a go. 'The boys have built a lovely wee bike. It was just hard to get used to the bike because it's a V-twin, but obviously the main thing for me is to win for all the boys and especially for Ducati. It's nice to get them back to the top.' Dunlop was left stung by his narrow defeat in the Superbike opener and was determined to come out with all guns blazing in the first of two Supersport races scheduled this week. 'I got my s**t together and got on with it. I just knew it kept coming,' he said. 'It was a bit like the big bike, we haven't had a lot of laps, especially here with a brand new motorbike. 'And obviously to win on a new motorbike I knew it was going to be hard with the little laps we've had in practice and the characteristics of the bike, but just big hats off to the lads. 'The wee bike is dinging away nicely – it just took me a lap to dial into it.' Harrison was 7.48s clear of Dunlop after the first lap but he was unable to match his rival's pace and says there is nothing more to come from his CBR600RR Honda. 'That's all it's got,' he said. 'We can't improve what we have. This is all we have here with us. 'That [Ducati] is a new-generation bike, we're 6mph down through the speed trap. We're not going to find any more power through the week, so we'll just do the same again in race two.' The duo were well clear of James Hillier on the Bournemouth Kawasaki, who was back on the TT podium for the first time since 2019. Hillier was more than 55 seconds down on race winner Dunlop, while Todd (Milenco by Padgett's Honda) claimed fourth. Josh Brookes (Jackson Racing Honda by Prosper2) and Rob Hodson (SMT Racing Yamaha) rounded out the top six ahead of James Hind (North Lincs Components Suzuki) and Dominic Herbertson (HRRC Gilbert Brown & Son Ducati). Paul Jordan from Magherafelt retired on the Jackson Racing Honda. The top ten was completed by 16-time TT winner Ian Hutchinson (MLav Racing Yamaha) and Conor Cummins (Burrows/RK Racing Ducati). Racing is set to continue today with the first Superstock race (10:45am) and the opening Supertwin race (2pm).


BBC News
24-05-2025
- BBC News
Dunlop tribute 'an absolute privilege' for Rea
Six-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea said it was "an absolute privilege" to be involved in a celebration of the life of motorcycle racing hero Joey Dunlop in Ballymoney, County Antrim, on 'Joey 25' tribute day was being held a quarter of a century after the revered 26-time Isle of Man TT winner was killed in an accident at a race in Estonia in July event brought together a plethora of famous names from two-wheel motorsport past and present, including Rea, another multiple World Superbike champion in Carl Fogarty, Glenn Irwin, Brian Reid, Phillip McCallen and Ron special celebration to remember Joey was hosted by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, in conjunction with the Dunlop family."Joey Dunlop was an icon, not just in motorcycle racing but as a sportsman in the country," Rea, 38, told BBC Sport NI."I grew up in race paddocks and didn't really understand the magnitude of Joey or the legacy left."My father was racing against him but over time I've understood all his accomplishments and more of the human he was, the effect he had on the fans and the people here, understood what a legend he was, someone we can be really proud of."Thousands of people defied the unfavourable weather conditions to commemorate the life and achievements of the five-time TT Formula One world champion, who also racked up 24 Ulster Grand Prix victories and 13 North West 200 successes in an illustrious occasion to mark the landmark anniversary included a closed-roads parade around the town centre with top riders using Joey Dunlop's original machines."It's a really good day, not just to honour Joey, but everyone involved in the day has been really pumped to be part of it," added Rea.