VOL. 54 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 19, 2017 P161
of course. It's impossible to be
happy for a guy if he is beating
me every weekend, but we try
and keep it professional and give
each other space we need."
With Cycle News obviously
being an American-based mo-
torcycle magazine, the interview
with Rea wouldn't have been
complete without bringing up the
late, great Nicky Hayden. "Nicky
was just a good guy and it was a
huge loss," said Rea of his for-
mer friend and competitor. "Not
just to family and friends and
motorsport, but the whole world
in general. He touched many,
many people. Nobody is going to
ever replace Nicky. He had that
infectious smile in the paddock
and a work ethic like no other.
It's really, really sad and it was
nice that I could win in California
this season and dedicate that
race win to him and his family.
He's sorely missed by the whole
World Superbike paddock."
The instigator and curator of
one of the most spectacularly
successful runs in the 29-year
history of the Superbike World
Championship, both 2018 and
2019 will put even more glare
