Rea considered 'walking away' after 'dark year'

Six-time world champion Jonathan Rea admits he considered "walking away" from racing after enduring a "dark year" on the bike.

Rea, who dominated the World Superbike Championship with six straight titles between 2015 and 2020, finished 13th in his first season with Pata Yamaha after leaving Kawasaki.

The Northern Ireland rider picked up just one podium place - at Donington Park in July - but admits drawing the curtain on his decorated career after such a disappointing season would have been "a horrible way to do it".

"In the last few years I've been imagining what retirement would look like, but I struggle to see retirement without being competitive on a motorbike," Rea told BBC Sport NI.

"Walking away from the sport healthy was an option but it would have been a horrible way to do it.

"I would probably have hung on to a lot of those negative feelings, so I want to right the wrongs. When the feeling on the bike is good you can't see retirement again. It's the good moments that remind you that there is a lot more to come."

He added: "When the feeling's good you feel like you're going to ride this wave, you're going to build the snowball effect. But yes, this year was a dark year in many ways."

Lost confidence after early crashes

Rea has 119 career World Superbike race wins but managed just one podium finish in 2024

The 37-year-old says a number of factors contributed to his disappointing year.

"As a team we took many different directions with development. Also, at times this season, it felt like the team and the bike weren't getting the best out of me," he said.

"I know when we get that my potential is so much higher so that's what kept me fighting. It frustrated me this year that I didn't get to show my full potential."

He also explained that two huge crashes at Phillip Island at the start of last season "had a big impact on him physically and mentally" as he began his new venture.

"I lost a lot of confidence and it took time to rebuild that but there were a few moments of magic where I managed to secure pole positions, compete for podiums, be on the podium and generally my pace at the end of races was as competitive as most," he said.

"Overall though it was definitely under par for me and not where I expected to be.

"My expectation was much higher after coming to Yamaha after they were so good the previous year, but we just didn't seem to hit the ground running. Even in the tough moments though I turned up with a positive attitude."

The county Antrim rider is aiming to turn his fortunes around in the 2025 campaign, which will start with the traditional season opener at Phillip Island on 22-23 February.

"Bit of a reset now this off season and a change of mindset going into 2025. Setting goals that motivate us to go out and work really hard as a team is going to be important," he explained.

"I'm 100% sure next year will be a step forward on this year. We've got a lot of new things coming in the pipeline and my last test in Jerez with my crew was a positive one.

"I was a lot faster than I was in the race weekend there and was feeling good with the bike. Being able to ride 100% on the limit every single corner is what we're aiming for, to be confident that I can push."

'A change in dynamic is going to help'

One major change already made for the 2025 season has seen Rea replace crew chief Andrew Pitt with Oriol Pallares, his long-time chief mechanic at Kawasaki.

"Andrew was an amazing guy. He worked relentlessly hard, but I just think a change in dynamic for me is going to help," said Rea of the switch.

"Yamaha are working incredibly hard behind the scenes too but I think a good target for us next season is to keep fighting for podiums - that's my target and it would be a huge step forward from last season.

"I'd love to finish the season inside the top five again, plus podiums. A race win would be the icing on the cake."