Pata Maxus Yamaha Team Principal Statement on Rea Retiring from Full Time Racing

Following the announcement yesterday of six-time World Champion – and most successful WorldSBK rider of all time – Jonathan Rea’s retirement from full-time racing, Pata Maxus Yamaha Team Principal Paul Denning shares a statement on “JR’s” long-lasting legacy.

Rea’s two years as an Official Yamaha WorldSBK rider bookmark a monumental career which transcends the sport and stands as an inspiration for many. As Denning describes, Rea’s contribution to Pata Maxus Yamaha and its valued partners on a human level, in addition to his unwavering professionalism, will remain a testament to his outstanding commitment and character.

Paul Denning – Team Principal, Pata Maxus Yamaha:

“There is very little that I, or anybody inside the Pata Maxus Yamaha WorldSBK project, can add to the many tributes already paid to Jonathan following his announcement that 2025 will be his final season as a WorldSBK rider and full-time racer. His legacy is unmatched and is likely to remain that way forever – “JR” is truly an icon of the sport.

I would prefer to reflect on Jonathan’s tenure with our team and Yamaha, the values he has brought to us and the unwavering commitment he has shown. We had signed a legend to the team – the first few laps at Jerez at the end of 2023 were truly pinch yourself moments – but we also recognised the challenges of adapting to the R1 and to a new racing family after nine successful years with Guim’s team. We had only known JR as a competitor – one that was either beating us or making our lives really difficult – so we also needed to build a supportive relationship in which he could trust.

Unfortunately, these two seasons have been compromised by challenges and the results have not met Jonathan’s or Yamaha’s targets – and we have had a reasonable helping of simple “bad luck” thrown in as well. The winter tests in 24/25 were very positive, but we didn’t get past the end of the first test session in Australia before a fairly innocuous crash ended with JR’s machine landing on his foot, causing significant injuries.

Victories and World Championships will be the enduring legacy, but the person and the dedicated professional that we have discovered in Jonathan is what will remain with us. Despite all the challenges, he has remained fully committed, always fully prepared, and deeply respectful of the investment made by Yamaha to secure him and the individual efforts made by every single person within the project and the team. His commitment to recovery from the Phillip Island injuries was 100% – absolutely nothing left on the table, full investment in getting back to the team as soon as humanly possible in the same way he would have done if a World Title was on the line, where in reality the season was already “done”.

Jonathan is honest at all times, respects and supports his crew as a family, and gives 100% always – he should be proud that he has remained completely true to his values, and has set a great example for his own boys throughout challenging, as well as winning, moments.  We have taken the journey together from being competitors to being trusted compatriots and friends, and personally this means a lot.

I believe that the retirement decision has been weighing heavily on JR’s shoulders in the last couple of months, and that we can expect a more relaxed, happy rider over these last four rounds of 2025 in WorldSBK. Nothing would give us all more pleasure than seeing Jonathan fighting for the podium and finishing this iconic story with a smile.

Good on you JR – and thank you for everything you have brought to the team during these two seasons together.”