Rea extends stay with Ten Kate
Added on Monday, September 13th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Rea extends stay with Ten Kate
Jonathan Rea has confirmed that he will be staying with the Ten Kate Honda team for next season’s World Superbike championship after signing a new one-year contract.
Rea, who has been with the Ten Kate team since 2008 as a World Supersport rider, has established himself as one of the title contenders, finishing fifth in the championship last season and the Northern Irish rider currently stands third in the championship with two rounds remaining.
His performances this year, with four wins, five seconds and a third have clearly impressed bosses at Ten Kate and Rea revealed his delight at penning a deal for 2011.
“I’m really happy to be staying with this fantastic team for another season,” Rea said. “We’re all pulling in the same direction and we’re all really excited about the prospects for the Honda CBR1000RR.
“Even though I’m still only 23, the team has taught me an enormous amount about world championship racing, both on the track and off it and I’ve become a regular race winner. To become a championship winner, I recognise that I need continuity and that’s what I’ve got now.
“It’s no secret that my ultimate ambition is to compete in GPs but I’ll still only be 24 next season so I’m really happy to aim for the World Superbike title in 2011 and then hopefully take the next step forward after that within the Honda family.”
Team manager Ronald ten Kate added, “It’s good to see a rider of Jonathan’s calibre spend his entire career to date with the Honda family. At the beginning of this agreement, it was always the intention of the rider, the team and Honda to stay together and we are very happy to see that realised now.
“Jonathan joined us in Supersport ranks in 2008 and his raw talent has combined with a great attitude and personality to turn him into a race winner. Next year, our only aim will be to turn that race winner into a championship winner.”
