WSBK

Jonathan Rea flexes his pre-season muscles on Aussie soil

Posted:

Friday, February 19th, 2016

8:57 PM

World superbike champion Jonathan Rea's already got a fondness for Australia ‰ÛÓ he's married to Phillip Island girl Tatia Weston ‰ÛÓ but the popular Northern Irishman counts Australia‰Ûªs motorcycle mecca, the Phillip Island Grand Prix track, as his second-home track and is counting the days to next weekend‰Ûªs (Feb 26-28) opening round.

Rea comes face to face with the 25 strong world superbike field that he will race on Monday, with the first appointment the final two day pre-season test, prior to the championship kick off Friday.

Adopted Phillip Island local, and defending champion, Jonathan Rea will be back on the testing track come Monday.

Last year was a winner for Rea, where he broke through for his first title victory after switching from Honda to Kawasaki, and kicked off the season with a win at Phillip Island‰Ûªs opening round last February.

He has a new bike under his belt for 2016, the new Kawasaki 2016 ZX-10R, and has spent the European winter testing his new machine and says he‰Ûªs in "a good position for 2016".

"The 20016 ZX-10R is definitely a step up, but the real test will come ‰ÛÓ as it is for all the grid ‰ÛÓ in proper race conditions. But the ZX-10R is definitely easier to ride and more forgiving, especially when I make small mistakes,‰Û

Jonathan Rea's Australian wife, Tatia Weston with toddler Jake in Kawasaki colours, Phillip Island 2015

Rea nearly counts himself as a ridgy-didge local after an off-season spent between the Aussie beach and bush.

He spends a few months each year down-under, with Jono and Tatia bringing their two sons, two year old Jake and four month old Tyler to visit grandparents and their second home at Phillip Island, as often as the season allows.

‰ÛÏI‰Ûªm nearly a local,‰Û