When I first met Jonathan Rea, he was just eight years old. He told me: “Watch out for the Rea name. Racing is in our family’s blood and I am going to be a world champion.”
That may well have been the starry aspiration of youth, but 20 years later Jonathan’s dream became a reality – and the memory of that day has endured.
Inspired by Northern Ireland’s five-time world champion Joey Dunlop, Rea managed to secure one more than his hero.
His run of six successive world titles make him the country’s most successful motorcycle rider, and his partnership with the Kawasaki team is arguably one of the greatest in motorsport history.
On track, Rea – who was also crowned Irish motorcyclist of the year nine times in a row – has always been an extremely fierce and driven competitor. Off it, he is one of the most grounded, humble and articulate sportsmen I have ever met.
Throughout his career, he has granted BBC Sport NI unprecedented access into his life – I feel very fortunate to have been given a front row seat to his remarkable journey.
In the future, he will certainly be much sought after as a test rider and we may even see him undertake some endurance racing.
But when he hangs up his competitive leathers, he will do so as one of Northern Ireland’s greatest sporting ambassadors.
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