EXCLUSIVE: Jonathan Rea says ‘it’s my time’ at Yamaha, not replacing Toprak Razgatlioglu

Jonathan Rea says the prꦛessure he’s under at Yamaha has nothing to do with replacing Toprak Razgatlioglu.

Jonathan Rea
Jonathan Rea

The six-time WorldSBK champion joined Yamaha in a sensational move towards the end of last season, and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Jonathan Rea, who has been impressive so far in testing abo💛ard the R1🌃, feels good about where he’s at in his adaptation period.

Rea, who is on-track again today and tomorrow asꦕ part of the two day Portimao test, spoke to ltxcn.top l💮ast weekend following the Jerez outing. 

When asked whether he agrees with the perception of many that the R1 is a very rider-friendly machine, Rea exclusively told Crash: “I think it’s a fair comment to say that it’s a user-friendly bike. It’s a bike that definitely inspir♔es confidence.

“In my firs🎃t few l༺aps the timer was broken - not broken- but because it was a private test the timing loop wasn’t set-up.

“So I didn’t know the lap t𝓀imes and didn’t feel very fast. But then the guys told me that the lap times were really fast.

“I couldn’t quite believe that everything just flowed and that the lap t♈ime was just comi🍸ng. I think a lot of that is to do with the engine character of the R1 and not just the chassis.

“Of course the cha📖ssis works well but the engine character is very linear. The bike makes power but makes it in a very linear way. Just understanding that, with the torque as well.

“I think that always lets the riders understand where you are in the rpm range. You can really understand a bik🧜e in your hand, instead of using so much electronics.”

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Perhaps the favourite to challenge Ducati a🔴nd Alvaro Bautista this season given the results Yamaha have achieved in recent seasons, Rea said it’s too early to think about that as he considers Ducati the reference, still. 

Rea added: “We’ll have to see, it’s too early to talk about how competitive we caဣn be.🔯 In testing everyone has different strategies.

“What’s clear is that, looking at ♔the lap-by-lap analysis after the test, Bulega was a clear step ahead of everybody.

“After that, Alvaro looked very strong as well, even though he wasn🔴’t right at the front ♛in the classification. Alvaro is Alvaro.

“I still feel like they are the reference. But step-by-step, getting mo𓆉re used to the bike I have more reason to be optimistic that I can fight. But we need to see.

“Phillip Island is a st💯range race because𒁏 it’s all about tyre consumption and now out-right pace.”

What is clear this season is that Rea will be gunning for a seventh world title, and with that it means taking over Yamaha’s challenge from Razgatlioglu unless Andrea Locatelli can pos🍷e a season-long threat.

But Rea, who admits ther𝓰e is pressure in 2024, says it’s not because he’s replacing Razgatlioglu.

“Like most r🔯acers you just think selfis🦄hly,” began Rea. “I’m always thinking about myself. I don’t I’m replacing him. I’m coming to Yamaha to do my job.

“He had an incredible time with Yamaha but now it is my time. To compare myself or the pressure; the pressure on me is not abou𝄹t To💦prak or what he did before.

“The pressure is thꦺat I left a very comfortable environment with my previo🔯us team, a team I loved and not about who I’m replacing at Yamaha.”

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