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Belfast Telegraph
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Frustrated Jonathan Rea brands Hungary ‘one of the most frustrating weekends' of his career
The Balaton Park circuit was hosting a round of the series for the first time and also had the honour of marking a milestone 1000th race for the championship, which was won by reigning champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, who completed a clean sweep for a treble. Rea's best result was ninth in the wet Superpole race yesterday on the Pata Maxus Yamaha. The six-time champion crashed twice in Saturday's race and ended the weekend with 12th place in the final race. He is 18th in the standings as speculation continues over his future, with the 38-year-old strongly linked with a move to another manufacturer for 2026. Rea said: 'This morning was wet, I didn't have a really good feeling with the bike – just a lack of rear traction – and it was a little bit the same in the Superpole Race. 'We started with a drying line and when there were risks to be taken, I was ready to take those risks – but (Xavi) Vierge came underneath me at T4 and picked me up into the wet stuff. 'I lost so much track position and when I was coming back, (Nicolo) Bulega was in front and he was slowing everyone down in the group with intermediate tyres. 'I just couldn't get past him and it was frustrating.' For the final race, Rea said he was having issues with grip from the beginning. 'Unfortunately, in the long Race 2, I struggled from the get-go with grip,' Rea said. 'I got a decent start and was inside the top six in the first corner but without grip I was a sitting duck. 'I don't feel like I was riding very well and to make it worse I didn't have a great feeling with my bike today because we didn't quite nail the set-up and I didn't feel comfortable. 'It was one of the most frustrating weekends to be honest.' Razgatlioglu's hat-trick has given him a lead of 26 points over Italy's Bulega, who finished 13th in the Superpole race in the wet and second twice in the longer 21-lap races. Turkish rider Razgatlioglu won the 1000th race World Superbike race yesterday and has his sights set on winning the title for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad team for the second successive year before he makes the move to the MotoGP World Championship. There is now a lengthy summer break before round nine at Magny-Cours in France from September 5-7. Meanwhile, David Allingham from Eglinton won both National Superstock 1000 races over the weekend at the fifth round of the British Superbike Championship. Allingham, riding the SBS/Nicholl Oils BMW, held off Ukraine's Ilya Mikhalchick (ROKiT BMW) by 0.350s in Saturday's opening race and repeated the feat yesterday, wrapping up a double by six-tenths-of-a-second over championship leader Mikhalchick. Allingham has moved into third in the championship and is 47 points off the top spot. There were wins for Scott Redding and reigning champion Kyle Ryde in the BSB races. Redding, who will ride for the Hager PBM Ducati team for the rest of the season, won the 12-lap Sprint race after title pacesetter Bradley Ray – Saturday's race winner – slipped off on the Raceways Yamaha while leading. In the final race of the weekend at the Kent circuit, Ryde (OMG Nitrous Competitions Yamaha) held off Danny Kent (McAMS Yamaha) for his first victory of the campaign, with Redding edging out Ray for third. Ray's lead has now been reduced to 34 points by Ryde. Hager PBM Ducati rider Glenn Irwin missed the Brands round but hopes to return at Thruxton next month as he continues to recover from injuries sustained in a crash at Snetterton. Andrew Irwin was seventh in the Sprint race yesterday but the Honda Racing UK rider crashed out in Race 3. Scott Swann (IWR Honda) twice finished 12th.
Belfast Telegraph
25-07-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Jonathan Rea issues update on next move in World Superbikes and says he feels heat ahead of milestone race in Hungary
The Balaton Park circuit is a new venue for World Superbikes and is set to mark a special milestone, hosting the Championship's 1000th race. Rea, who was 16th in free practice on the Pata Maxus Yamaha on Friday, has been linked with several teams, including a Ducati ride with Barni Racing. The six-time world champion could be in line to replace Danilo Petrucci in the Italian team, who is being tipped to join the factory BMW squad as a replacement for MotoGP-bound Toprak Razgatlioglu. Rea is in the final year of his two-year contract with Yamaha and a move to a different manufacturer for 2026 appears to be on the cards for the Ulsterman, who has struggled to challenge at the front on the R1 since making the move from Kawasaki. Speaking ahead of this weekend's Hungarian round, Rea said it was a case of 'wait and see' regarding his next move. 'Let's wait and see, focus on the weekend, try to do a really good job,' said the 38-year-old. 'I'm sure we'll understand more in the summer break, or later. I have some options, let's say, but it's taking the right one and for me to understand what's best for me.' Rea missed the first three rounds of the 2025 Championship following a crash during a test at Phillip Island in Australia at the end of February. He is languishing in 18th position in the standings ahead of Saturday's opening race (1.00pm) and finished 13th in his maiden season as a Yamaha rider in 2024, earning a best result of third in the Superpole race at Donington Park. The stage is set for the 1000th World Superbike race this weekend and Rea said he was 'proud' to be part of the celebrations. 'I'm super excited and very proud to be part of this huge milestone,' said Rea. 'World Superbike is my life. It's given me an incredible life, and I feel like part of this family,' he said. 'It'll be nice to celebrate that milestone with everyone here.' Briton Sam Lowes topped the practice times on Friday on the Marc VDS Ducati by 0.215 secs from reigning champion Razgatlioglu. Italy's Nicolo Bulega ( Ducati), who trails title leader Razgatlioglu by only four points after the Turkish rider moved to the Championship summit with a treble at Donington Park, was eighth, one second off the top spot. Razgatlioglu, who won the 800th and 900th races in World Superbikes, said he 'felt some pressure' to claim the series' 1000th victory on Sunday. 'I feel some pressure this weekend to win Race 1000,' he said. 'I think it could be a good circuit for me.' Saturday's Superpole race is at 10.00am followed by Race Two at 1.00pm. Meanwhile, injured Glenn Irwin is hoping to make his return to the British Superbike Championship in August. Irwin is targeting the Cadwell Park round from August 23-25 but hopes Thruxton from August 8-10 could be a possibility. The Carrickfergus man has been out of action following a heavy spill in qualifying at Snetterton in June at Round Three, suffering injuries to his hip socket and pelvis and undergoing surgery. Former BSB champion Scott Redding was brought into the Hager PBM Ducati team as a replacement at Knockhill in Scotland in July. It has since been confirmed that Redding will race for the team for the remainder of the season, with the English rider and the MGM Bonovo Racing World Superbike team going their separate ways. Jordan Bird, joint owner of the PBM Ducati squad, said: 'Glenn's recovery has been going brilliantly; he is showing the strength and the resilience we all knew he had. 'We are really looking forward to getting him back as soon as he is fully fit and ready to be fighting at the front again.' On Friday, Championship leader Bradley Ray was fastest in free practice by 0.247 secs on the Raceways Yamaha from Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) and Kyle Ryde (OMG Nitrous Competitions Yamaha). Honda Racing's Andrew Irwin was eighth with Scott Swann 14th on the Send My Bag/IWR Honda. The first BSB race of the weekend is on Saturday at 4.00pm.
Belfast Telegraph
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Jonathan Rea lifts lid on ‘strong talks' over future prospects in World Superbikes
The six-time champion earned his best result of the 2025 season in Saturday's opening race at the East Midlands circuit, finishing fifth after qualifying strongly in fourth place on the Pata Maxus Yamaha. It was a fitting performance to mark his tribute to Northern Ireland motorcycle legend Joey Dunlop. Rea wore a custom-made replica of the road racing great's iconic yellow Arai helmet over the weekend to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his tragic passing in a racing accident in Estonia on July 2, 2000. Michael Dunlop, who surpassed his uncle Joey's record of 26 Isle of Man TT wins in 2024 and has now won 33 times at the event in total, attended the Donington round where he presented the top three in the Superpole race of Toprak Razgatlioglu, Nicolo Bulega and Sam Lowes with their trophies on Sunday. Rea scored a satisfactory sixth in the Superpole race but ended the weekend in a disappointing 15th in the final race at Round Seven due to an issue with the front brake. He is in the final year of his Yamaha contract after signing with the manufacturer for 2024 and 2025 following nine years at Kawasaki. Rea struggled in his first season on the R1 and finished 13th in the Championship, claiming his only podium result at Donington in the summer of 2024. The 38-year-old was playing catch-up in 2025 after a crash in a test at Phillip Island in Australia in February left him with multiple fractures in his left foot, with the complexity of the injury ruling him out until the Fourth Round at Cremona in Italy at the beginning of May. Rea is currently in 18th place in the Championship, but he doesn't feel his 'difficult moment' will have too much of a negative impact on his prospects of securing a competitive ride for 2026. 'I think this difficult moment we're facing is a moment in time,' said Rea. 'I've no doubt about my ability, and I think when I look at my stats and my career, I don't have to sell (myself) too much, really. The people understand that, and I don't think it's going to affect what happens next year. 'Of course, conversations now are ongoing quite strong about different options here and there, so let's see. I'm sure by the summer break, I'll understand at least what all the options are, and then it will be time to put my head together and understand what I want to do.' The Eighth Round takes place at the Balaton Park track in Hungary from July 25-27 – a new venue on the calendar in the 2025 season – before the six-week summer break. Factory seats are up for grabs at both Ducati and BMW following the confirmed departures of Alvaro Bautista and reigning champion Razgatlioglu respectively, while HRC Honda riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge's futures remain in the balance. Razgatlioglu is making the step up to MotoGP in 2026 with the Pramac Racing Yamaha team and showed why he is in high demand with a dominant display at Donington. The Turkish star completed a clean sweep of all three races to move into the title lead for the first time in 2025 by four points from Nicolo Bulega ( Ducati), who was second in each race. Razgatlioglu won the Superpole race by 2.8 secs from Bulega, with Briton Sam Lowes making it onto the podium at his home round on the Marc VDS Racing Ducati. His brother Alex was declared unfit to race on Sunday after crashing while leading Saturday's opening race. In the final race, Razgatlioglu won by 2.9 secs from Bulega, with team-mate Bautista in third. Sam Lowes was in second place when he crashed out in the early stages. Rea's Yamaha team-mate Andrea Locatelli – fifth in the Superpole race – crossed the line in fourth in Race Two.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Donington Park treble for WSBK leader Razgatlioglu
Toprak Razgatlioglu moved into the lead of the World Superbike Championship by winning the second feature race at Donington Park. BMW rider Razgatlioglu had earlier closed to within one point of title rival Nicolo Bulega by winning the Superpole sprint race ahead of the Ducati his dominant victory in Sunday's feature race, reigning champion Razgatlioglu now leads the championship by four points ahead of Bulega, who was second. Alvaro Bautista completed the podium ahead of Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Ireland's six-time champion Jonathan Rea, who collected his best finish of the season in fifth on Saturday, claimed the final point on offer in 15th win was a third victory of the weekend for the Turkish rider after he won Saturday's opening feature race and the Superpole. Razgatlioglu is a two-time champion and will move to MotoGP with Yamaha in 2026.
Sunday World
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Sunday World
‘Right now, it's too early' – Jonathan Rea remaining tight-lipped on his next move
Jonathan Rea is in the final year of his contract with Yamaha. Rea claimed his best result of the season yesterday in the opening race after getting the better of Scott Redding (MGM Bonovo Ducati) to finish fifth. The Northern Ireland rider wore a special replica of Joey Dunlop's famous yellow helmet to honour the legend 25 years after he died following a crash during a race in Estonia in July 2000. Reigning champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW) won the race to slash Nicolo Bulega's advantage at the top of the championship to only four points ahead of today's races. Bulega ( Ducati) finished as the runner-up, 6.5s behind pole man Razgatlioglu and clear of Danilo Petrucci in third on the Barni Spark Racing Ducati. Rea, who also earned his best qualifying result in 2025 yesterday of fourth, was 13th in the championship in his maiden season as a Yamaha rider last year after making the switch from Kawasaki. The 38-year-old enjoyed nine hugely successful years at Team Green, winning an unprecedented six consecutive world crowns to become the most successful competitor in the championship's history. However, he has struggled to challenge at the front after joining the Pata Maxus Yamaha team and has yet to add to his record tally of 119 victories on the R1. Rea's best result in 2024 was third in the Superpole race at Donington. He was optimistic of a much better year in 2025, but a crash at the start of the season in testing at Phillip Island in Australia in February forced him to miss the opening three rounds. Rea is in the final year of his contract with Yamaha and has been linked with several teams for 2026, although the Ballyclare man was reluctant to shed any light on what his future in the series may hold. 'Right now, it's too early. It's like a top-down effect; Toprak (Razgatlioglu) and (Nicolo) Bulega got fixed but normally you don't start talking about the future until the summer break at least,' Rea said. 'We'll get Donington under our belt and then really understand what the future looks like. I want to really focus on my weekend, do a really strong Donington and we'll understand what that looks like. 'Donington was probably my strongest round last year, alongside Estoril. 'I really enjoyed the bike. I feel like my season's just starting after missing the first few rounds with injury. Right now, we're still building the momentum into the year. 'In racing, things can change quickly, with a small confidence boost. 'I feel we're still building momentum into the year, we're definitely behind after missing the first rounds,' he added. 'It's going to be great to have good home support and a lot of travelling support from Northern Ireland and it's my team's home race as well, so a lot to get excited for and let's hope we can be closer to the sharp end and fight where both the bike and the team deserve.' His team-mate, Andrea Locatelli, finished fourth, while Rea passed Redding on the penultimate lap to claim fifth. England's Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing) crashed out early while leading. Today's Superpole race is at 11am followed by Race Two at 2pm.
