Jonathan Rea made his debut with Pata Yamaha in World Superbike Championship testing at Jerez on Tuesday. This is an exciting moment for the Iwata manufacturer’s team.
Paul Denning, the team boss, spoke to the official championship website about Rea’s debut and didn’t hide his emotions: ‘I’m really excited! It’s a very short transition I have to say, from the emotion of Sunday and 24 hours later, taking pictures of Jonathan Rea sat on our bike. It’s kind of surreal, almost too quick a transition – also for him, to be jumping out of green after eight years. However, here we are, they are the logistics, we’re here at the test and I couldn’t be more excited. We had a great day yesterday, like an introduction day, working together in a physical way. I am absolutely intrigued to see what today and what the next day brings as part of the first part of the journey’.
According to Denning, everything that led to Rea joining Yamaha was strange but enjoyable: ‘It’s been a real pleasure to get to know the person behind the competitor, his family and the process was stressful but strangely enjoyable. It’s quite a surreal moment’.
