Jonathan Rea is wary of rushing back too soon and will only make his return from injury when the six-time World Superbike champion feels he can “give 100 percent”.
Rea sustained multiple fractures in his left foot when he crashed on the Pata Maxus Yamaha during the final test prior to the first round of the championship at Phillip Island in Australia last month.
He underwent surgery in Belfast after flying back to Northern Ireland and has been focused on his recovery at home.
The 38-year-old will miss round two at Portimao in Portugal at the end of this month and Rea remains unsure whether or not he will be fit enough to make his comeback in the third round at Assen in the Netherlands (April 11-13), one of the Ballyclare man’s happiest hunting grounds.
“We are now two weeks post-surgery, and the pain has pretty much subsided, so I’m doing well considering,” said Rea, who will be replaced by MotoGP test rider Augusto Fernandez at Portimao, who joins Italy’s Andrea Locatelli in the official Yamaha team.
“After our positive winter tests, I am so motivated to get back on the bike so I will do everything possible to enhance the recovery process, but obviously you have to be careful.
“I’ve been looking at everything, diet, supplements and of course using the hyperbaric chamber which I now have at home.
“As soon as the cast comes off, there are all sorts of things such as ultrasound equipment for bone healing which can give you some marginal gains in the recovery process.
“I am 100 percent committed to being on the bike as fast as I can, but World Superbike is at such a competitive level right now I only want to come back on the bike when I know I can give 100 percent as that’s what my team, Yamaha and I deserve.
“It’s hard to be patient, but we are going through the process.”
Rea endured a challenging first season with Yamaha in 2024, finishing 13th in the standings and missing out on a WSBK race victory for the first time in his career.
JONATHAN Rea is wary of rushing back too soon and will only make his return from injury when the six-time World Superbike champion feels he can “give 100 percent”.
Rea sustained multiple fractures in his left foot when he crashed on the Pata Maxus Yamaha during the final test prior to the first round of the championship at Phillip Island in Australia last month.
He underwent surgery in Belfast after flying back to Northern Ireland and has been focused on his recovery at home.
The 38-year-old will miss round two at Portimao in Portugal at the end of this month and Rea remains unsure whether or not he will be fit enough to make his comeback in the third round at Assen in the Netherlands (April 11-13), one of the Ballyclare man’s happiest hunting grounds.
“We are now two weeks post-surgery, and the pain has pretty much subsided, so I’m doing well considering,” said Rea, who will be replaced by MotoGP test rider Augusto Fernandez at Portimao, who joins Italy’s Andrea Locatelli in the official Yamaha team.
“After our positive winter tests, I am so motivated to get back on the bike so I will do everything possible to enhance the recovery process, but obviously you have to be careful.
“I’ve been looking at everything, diet, supplements and of course using the hyperbaric chamber which I now have at home.
“As soon as the cast comes off, there are all sorts of things such as ultrasound equipment for bone healing which can give you some marginal gains in the recovery process.
“I am 100 percent committed to being on the bike as fast as I can, but World Superbike is at such a competitive level right now I only want to come back on the bike when I know I can give 100 percent as that’s what my team, Yamaha and I deserve.
“It’s hard to be patient, but we are going through the process.”
Rea endured a challenging first season with Yamaha in 2024, finishing 13th in the standings and missing out on a WSBK race victory for the first time in his career.