Jonathan Rea to miss Australian WorldSBK round

The opening round of the 2025 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) will be without one of its biggest stars, with Jonathan Rea withdrawing due to injury. A highside on the opening day of the two-day pre-season test at Phillip Island on 17 February left the Pata Maxus Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team rider with multiple fractures to his left foot.  

Following assessment at the circuit medical centre, Rea was transferred to Cowes, where the fractures were confirmed. With the injury ruling out any chance of competing at the 21-23 February season opener, Rea flew out of Australia on 19 February to commence his recovery at home.

What surgeries are required and when he’s expected to make a return to racing are yet to be confirmed.

“On my first flying lap, I just lost the rear marginally and then it gripped again abruptly,” Rea explained of the highside. “It kicked me up and I landed on the bike again, then it sort of threw me over.

“That was fine, I landed fine, but the bike was cartwheeling and it landed on my foot. Took quite a lot of damage, so now I’m just going through the process.

“It isn’t possible to operate immediately because of the swelling and we’re speaking to a few different consultants about surgery and timeframes.”

With the injury sustained so close to this weekend’s opening round, Pata Maxus Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team will not field a replacement for Rea at Phillip Island. That will leave Andrea Locatelli as their sole rider for Round 1 on 21-23 February. The Italian (who was third fastest in the final session of the pre-season test at Phillip Island) will come to the season opener aiming for his first WorldSBK win. Locatelli’s best result at Phillip Island to date has been second, achieved in Race 1 and the Superpole Race last year.

For more details on the opening round of the 2025 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island on 21-23 February, go to: worldsbk.com.au