Jonathan Rea: NI rider out of World Superbike opener after crash in testing

Jonathan Rea will miss the upcoming weekend’s opening round of the World Superbike Championship in Australia after sustaining multiple foot fractures in a crash during testing at the Phillip Island circuit.

A statement from Rea’s Yamaha Racing team said that the six-time world champion had fallen in the closing stages of Monday’s first test session.

“He was taken to the circuit medical centre, before being transferred to Cowes for further assessment where it was confirmed he had sustained multiple fractures to the left foot,” said the Yamaha team.

“He will take no further part in testing or the upcoming race weekend.”

Rea, 38, is in his second campaign with Yamaha after a disappointing debut season for the team in 2024.

The Northern Ireland man won his six straight world titles with Kawasaki between 2015 and 2020 but opted to switch to Yamaha at the end of the 2023 season.