Fighting talk from Rea - #1 is a borrowed number, it has to be earnt

Ready to roll… Rea and Razgatlioglu look ahead to a new season of WorldSBK racing which gets underway at Aragon tomorrow. 

Rea, a six-time WorldSBK champion with Kawasaki, lost the #1 plate in 2021 after a sensational year from Razgatlioglu ended the Northern Irishman’s dominance. 

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Despite Razgatlioglu, a potential MotoGP rider in 2023 winning a career-high 13 races last year, it’s a tally that Rea managed to equal even though most of those victories came during Superpole races as opposed to feature length races.

If Razgatlioglu is to switch from Superbike to MotoGP next season, then going out with a second title will be the very least he and Yamaha expects.  

"I’m excited because the season starts again, and I use the #1," said the Turkish sensation. "I’m very happy for Yamaha as it’s the first time they use the number. We are ready to race! 

"Normally, I was feeling pressure before the season started. Now, I don’t feel the pressure as everyone was here for the test, but now I just feel excited! 

"For me, every WorldSBK rider is very fast. We know Bautista and Jonny are very fast, but also the other riders are very fast. 

"Last year, we saw some riders very fast and got good results. Now, I see Garrett, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Bautista, Jonny, Locatelli… everybody’s fast!"

WorldSBK legend returns to where it all began...

After making history in 2019 and 2020 as the only rider to win five and then six World Superbike titles, Rea made even more history in 2021 after becoming the only rider to win 100 races. 

Switching back to the #65 is something Rea has not done since 2015, which he called ‘going back to my roots’, and while it’s a move he’s excited about, reclaiming the #1 is the sole focus for Rea heading into this season.

Rea added: "I’m happy to start! Last year, picking up the 100th win in 2021 was really nice to start and if we can start in similar fashion this weekend, then that’d be incredible. To have a solid weekend, get as many points on the board as possible and then move on. 

"Rivals come from everywhere and last year, so many people were able to fight for the podium. 

"So, in theory, many can now fight for victories and if we go by the test and everyone’s form, then it’s Yamaha riders, Ducati riders and also my teammate Alex. 

"#65 carries less weight for sure! But it’s a happy number for me too, it’s back to my roots and it’s been my career number. #1 is only a borrowed number and it is one that has to be earnt."

2022 marks a year where considerable rider changes have taken place, more than usual, including former MotoGP rider Eugene Laverty, who remains at BMW but with the Bonovo Action squad.  

Eugene Laverty one of the many riders on the move.

While BMW were expected to become major players this year, pre-season testing has so far demonstrated different results, which is why Laverty, who claims WorldSBK is in a ‘golden era’ is anticipating a tough start to the year.

With the second-year M 1000 RR struggling for top speed, completing overtakes in race situations is likely to be a problem, as highlighted by the Irishman.  

Laverty said: "Having top speed is always great in race situations because, when you’re racing against other guys and you have the top speed always in your pocket, it means you’ve got an overtaking place automatically. 

"If you’re lacking straight line speed, you always have to be more creative to try and look for overtaking places. 

"This weekend will be tough at Aragon, the preseason test here has been difficult. All I have to do is progress from the test and try to get inside that top ten. 

"Definitely this season, as it progresses, I want to be looking at that podium but there’s so many great riders and great bikes in WorldSBK right now, it’s a golden era so it’s tougher than ever!"