Century of wins with Kawasaki 'would be incredible' - Rea, 'that’s the target'

With two WorldSBK wins this weekend Jonathan Rea would bring up a century with Kawasaki, an astonishing number for the Superbike legend, but reigning world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu is hoping to stop him.

Robert Jones

21 Apr 2022

Winner of the first race of the season in Aragon, Rea has a chance to build on his incredible tally of 15 WorldSBK wins in Assen, as yet more history beckons.

Rea has been nothing short of sensational since joining Kawasaki in 2015. Not just one of the best motorcycle riders in that time, but it could be argued sportsmen altogether.

The six-time world champion will face very tough challenges from the likes of Razgatlioglu and series leader Alvaro Bautista, but still, the goal is to win two races, a number that would give him the century

Speaking about the weekend and who he expects to challenge, Rea added: "Let’s say Alvaro’s replaced the missing Scott Redding at the front. It’s always cool to have more guys fighting at the front.

"We didn’t mention Rinaldi, he was very strong at Aragon, a good circuit for him. Nice to be in the battle, nice that I had a bike that let me fight as well.

"Look forward to more of that here. To win 100 races with Kawasaki would be incredible! No one’s mentioned that inside the team.

"To win two races in WorldSBK is tough but I will do my best, that’s the target, but nothing is for sure right now. It would be nice come Sunday.

"I hope they have this in mind, maybe they can prepare a cake or something, that would be nice!"

Can Alvaro Bautista become the 'king of Assen' this weekend, not Rea?

Following his Aragon double Bautista could once again be Rea’s biggest threat. The Ducati rider is the last man to get the better of Rea at the Dutch TT, which came in his rookie campaign (2019).

Alvaro Bautista and Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Aragon WorldSBK, 10 April

"It’s not easy to beat Jonny here. He has won everything here apart from three years ago against me," added Bautista. "More than motivated, I am confident; I felt very strong during the first round so why can’t I be strong here?

"It will be more difficult to beat him here as he is the ‘King of Assen’ but it will be a good challenge for everyone to beat him.

"Jonny, Toprak and I are three very different riders, and we have three very different bikes, so each one has its own style. It’s good to have three contenders for victory but also my teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi; he can battle with the other guys but also achieve a podium which he deserves. I hope to have the same battle as Aragon!"

Razgatlioglu: 'I think we’re fighting for the win this weekend'

With Rea and Bautista both winning at the season opener, Razgatlioglu was left playing third best in all three races.

Despite never winning at Assen thus far in his Superbike career, Razgatlioglu is a clear-cut favourite to get his first win of the season, something he’ll need to do in order to halt Rea and Bautista’s early momentum.

Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea, Aragon WorldSBK Race2, 9 April

Razgatlioglu had hinted at reverting back to the previous 2021 spec-electronics, but the Turkish rider has now confirmed he will use the 2022 electronics which gave him issues with front tyre grip towards the latter stages of races one and two in Aragon.

Razgatlioglu said: "In Aragon, we had a problem with the braking, and I didn’t feel good in this area, but for Assen, it’s important to improve this problem.

"Every race weekend we try 2021 and 2022 electronics, and now we are improving the new one. The new one we will improve each weekend and this weekend, we will use the 2022 electronics.

"The other Yamaha riders are improving, because I’m not working alone and they’re also working for the new electronics.

"We are coming to ‘my tracks’ now. Last year at Assen, it wasn’t a great result for me and in one race, I crashed.

"I know my problem at this track but this year we have improved it, so I think we’re fighting for the win this weekend."