It happened in EWC 2022… #9: World Superbike star Rea tries but can’t quite win Suzuka 8 Hours again

Jonathan Rea, the six-time winner of the FIM Superbike World Championship, tried but didn’t quite manage a third victory in the Suzuka 8 Hours last August, settling instead for second place in round three of the 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship. Northern Irishman Rea and Englishmen Leon Haslam and Alex Lowes joined forces to ride for Kawasaki Racing Team in the 43rd edition of the famous day and night race. Ad Having qualified second fastest, the #10 Kawasaki ZX-10RR led the race on lap nine, and from lap 29 to 30 during a gruelling race of attrition.

But an unfortunately timed safety car intervention and a fall for Rea while trying to pass two riders running further down the order cost vital time and restricted Kawasaki’s factory squad to the runner-up spot behind the winning Team HRC entry. FIM EWCEnergie Endurance hoping Tangre can in EWC10 HOURS AGO Afterwards, Rea revealed the level of effort required to bid for victory in Japan’s round of the EWC. “We have worked really well together, everybody from the backroom staff, strategy people, caterers, nutritionists, doctors – every single person in the team worked so hard with a busy schedule to get here,” said the then 35-year-old shortly after the finish.

“It is not easy to have two goals in a single season – the WorldSBK championship and also the Suzuka 8 Hours. “We had huge competition and did our best. I feel we just came up short but we can be proud, and really proud of my team-mates and everyone else for their hard work.