INTERVIEW
2016 WORLDSBK CHAMPION JONATHAN REA
P90
Two years and two titles
since joining Kawasaki. How
does that feel?
Yeah, it's been incredible. I
joined firstly an incredible manu-
facturer, but more importantly
I joined an incredible group of
guys. The bond in my team with
all my crew and my crew chief,
electronic engineers, and all the
mechanics, and that relationship
with the factory as well was re-
ally good from day one.
I think last year we never re-
ally stood back and took it all
in; what we're actually achiev-
ing. Then this year with the new
bike, it was much more difficult
because Kawasaki brought an
incredible base bike. The base
bike is much better (than the
2011-2015 ZX-10R), but in the
racing form, the center of gravity
was much more different. The
balance of the bike was differ-
ent, same with the engine char-
acter. It took a long time to really
understand what was working
with this bike. We still don't have
an amazing base setting. From
track to track we're changing
quite a lot, but when we stand
back and look at how many
races we've won in two seasons
it's been incredible.
Sometimes you have to pinch
yourself because it's been so
good you're kind of living inside
that bubble right now. But I can
tell you there were some really
tough times.
How has the change bet-
ween the 2015 and 2016 ZX-
10R affected you?
The biggest difference was
the engine character—the bike
required you to ride a different
way. So I had to quite quickly
change my riding style to get the
best out of the bike. With grip,
the bike was incredible. As soon
as the grip started to go our tire
consumption wasn't the best,
compared to last year.
Did this bike chew up the
tire more?
Yeah. From a chassis point
Round one,
Phillip Island. Rea
leads with Davies
right behind
him. The Ducati
challenge would
come on strong
in the second
part of the year.
