By Mike NicksJonathan Rea, Britain's brightest young racing prospect, will make his MotoGP debut at Donington Park on June 24, riding a Honda-engined KR212V run by legendary triple world champion Kenny Roberts Senior.
The deal was hammered out during Sunday's Italian MotoGP while the 20-year-old Ulsterman was flying back to London after testing for Honda in Japan. The first he knew of the dream opportunity was when he switched on his mobile phone after leaving the aircraft to find out that his employers, the HM Plant factory British Superbike team, had agreed to release him to ride the 800cc V4 machine.
"We would love to see him on the bike," Roberts said at Mugello. "We need to keep building on younger and younger people. We're a long way behind with the development of our bike, and we need the information that he will give us."
"If Jonathan plays it correctly, this can only benefit his career," Honda HRC spokesman Chris Herring said. "There are a couple of variables removed because he knows the tyres [HM Plant and Team KR both run Michelins] and the circuit.
"No one will expect him to perform wonders. But if he finishes every session and the race, people will find out what he can do. He'll just have to get a feeling for the bike."
The incredible opportunity was worked out at high speed at Mugello and will have huge consequences for the sport, and for the individuals and organisations involved in bringing it off. MotoGP and Donington will have a huge lever to generate publicity for the British Grand Prix, which this season has lacked a British rider after the Ilmor team, who were running Jeremy McWilliams, withdrew following the first round.
Roberts will also be able to harvest exposure for his sponsors, and Rea's fledgling career will receive a massive boost.
Shortly before the start of Sunday's Italian MotoGP, before the Rea deal had been concluded, Team KR manager Chuck Aksland said: "It's difficult trying to get a rider only three weeks before the race. Rea's contract is with Honda UK, so it's probably up to them and the rider to agree."
Just minutes after the end of the MotoGP race at Mugello, Kurtis Roberts, who had joined his brother Kenny Junior in the KR team for the Italian event, said that he hoped to ride the machine at Donington. But only minutes later, after a flurry of phone calls involving HM Plant team manager Neil Tuxworth, the deal was concluded while Rea was still in the air approaching London.
Two hours after getting off the plane, a shell-shocked Rea told
Crash.net: "I'm as surprised as you could be. The first I heard about it was when Neil Tuxworth called me two hours ago."
Rea will return to Japan this week to compete in the Suzuka 300km race on a Honda, and is then likely to ride in the fabled Suzuka 8-Hour race as his career prospects brighten almost by the week.
