Welcome to the beta version of the new Women & Golf website. Our web monkeys are still hard at work and welcome your feedback.  

Advertisement

Rea confirms MotoGP talks for 2014

Jonathan Rea has confirmed he is in talks for a switch to MotoGP in 2014 but will not limit himself to racing for Honda and is 'looking outside the box' in order to progress his career and ease his path into the premier class.

The young Irishman, who makes his home on the Isle of Man, has ruled out a prototype RC213V next season as spots in the LCR and Gresini team are now taken and he will only take a production racer if the deal is right for him.

"I had some meetings with Honda Motor when I was in Suzuka and they asked me what I wanted to do. I told them I would like to ride a prototype bike but right now it is not an option because both rider have contracts," said Rea, speaking to bikesportnews.com at Silverstone.

Advertisement

"They say they really want to help me. We are communicating with Europe and also HRC to see if it can be possible for me to ride a prototype bike in the future. But also I have to look outside the box as well. I’ve been a Honda guy all through my career but it doesn’t mean that when you cut me in half it reads Honda in the middle.

"It just so happens that every year, I’ve had the best opportunity to stay here in World Superbiks. Right now my management is having talks with other people as well, looking outside the box. I’m talking to some CRT teams that are looking forward to stepping up. There are a few opportunities out there that I’m waiting for and talking to. I don’t want to name who but some are really keen."

Rea will not go to MotoGP for the sake of going. There is no chance of him turning up on the Ducati GP13 proddie bike, if anyone buys one, but he won't rule out a switch to one of the privateer (CRT) teams or staying in WSBK and start to win more consistently.

"Right now it is nice to race for a win, to be competitive in this class. It feels like I am on a platform waiting for a train that never comes so what we were talking about with Honda Motor last week might be an option for 2015.

"I just have to consider everything really. In this paddock it seems like everything is quite slow; a lot of people are talking and are interested but until they get budgets signed off and okays from manufacturers to sign riders, there are no contracts being thrown around."

Articles you may like

Advertisement

More WorldSBK

Advertisement
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram