Jonathan Rea: Last few years of career left me feeling numb, he tells BBC Bikes podcast

Jonathan Rea says the final years of his full-time racing career left him “numb,” but his victory in this year’s Suzuka 8 Hours gave him a way to finish on a high. Speaking on the BBC Bikes Podcast, the 39-year-old rider from Northern Ireland described stepping away from World Superbike at the end of last season after a tough spell, while insisting he has no regrets. Rea said he expected his new role as a Honda test rider to be occasional, yet it has become “more of a full-time job” without the pressure of race weekends. He highlighted 2026’s Suzuka win—after a “horrible” end at Jerez—as especially meaningful and said 2027 will likely focus on testing and Suzuka again.