WSBK Rider of the Year vote: 7th

You voted in your thousands, but there can only be one winner... This is Crash.net's top ten countdown to the 2013 World Superbike Rider of the Year as voted for by you!
Rea, British WSBK, 2013
Rea, British WSBK, 2013
© Gold and Goose

Top 10 WSBK Rider of the Year 2013:7. Jonathan Rea
Nationality: BritishTeam: Pata HondaBike: Honda CBR1000RRWins: 1 Podiums: 4Championship points: 176Championship position: 9th

Wins, injuries, frustrating technical issues... Jonathan Rea's 2013 World Superbike Championship bared all the hallmarks of previous frustrating years as fortunes fluctuated and circumstances out of his control cast their shadow on his challenge.

Pledging his continued loyalty to Honda, now resplendent in the colours of new title backers Pata, 2013 was billed as the year that we discovered just how good Rea is on the now ageing 'Blade as he came up against Leon Haslam in what was arguably Honda's most convincing rider line-up for some years.

In the end, Haslam's season-long injury woes negated those comparisons, but Rea had bigger problems to worry about as he tussled with the Honda's ongoing technical gremlins. Fitted with a new electronics package over the winter, Rea was certainly encouraged by its potential, but persistent interference with power delivery became an all-too-frequent mantra for both riders post-race day.

While there is little doubting the quality of Rea's ability and determination at this level, the limitations of the bike appeared more evident than ever in 2013.

That said, Rea's classy and dominant win at Silverstone, along with podiums at Assen, Portimao and Imola, showed neither man nor machine can ever be discounted and was surely a consideration when he opted to put pen to paper for another year with Honda in 2014.

In the end, a spectacular accident at the Nurburgring would bring Rea's season to a sudden climax with four rounds remaining, leaving him an eventual ninth in the standings.

While many have written off the Honda package, Rea remains steadfastly committed to unleashing its full potential... and you really couldn't think of a better man for the job.

Top 10 WSBK Rider of the Year 2012: 6thTop 10 WSBK Rider of the Year 2011: 4thTop 10 WSBK Rider of the Year 2010: 4thTop 10 WSBK Rider of the Year 2009: 4thTop 10 WSBK Rider of the Year 2008: N/A

Top 10 WSBK Rider of the Year 2013:

8. Davide Giugliano9. Toni Elias10. Leon Camier

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