World Superbike legend Jonathan Rea to make racing comeback at Portimao

Six-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea will make his racing comeback next weekend at the Portimao round in place of the injured Jake Dixon at Honda.

The Ulsterman retired from full-time competition at the end of last year, capping off a glittering career that saw him become one of the greatest riders of all time in World Superbikes.

With 119 wins and six world titles to his name in a career that spanned 2008 to 2025, as well as stints with Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha, Rea has kept his foot in the paddock with his new role as official HRC test rider.

Despite recovering from injury, Rea has carried out a number of tests for Honda already this year, including last week at Portimao in place of the injured Jake Dixon.

Dixon has been absent since sustaining multiple fractures to his left wrist and hand on the final day of pre-season testing in Australia.

As such, the former Moto2 star is yet to make his WorldSBK debut.

That debut won’t come next weekend at the second round of the campaign in Portugal on 27-29 March, with Dixon’s first appearance set for 17-19 April at Assen at the earliest.

Rea makes Honda racing return 12 years from his last start with the brand

Rea’s return to action at the Portimao round this season will mark his first outing on Honda machinery since 2014.

He made his WorldSBK debut on the brand’s machinery with the Ten Kate team in 2008, before moving to the series full-time in 2009 with the squad.

Rea won two races with Honda in 2009, before taking four in 2010 and two apiece over the following two campaigns.

His best year with the Honda came in 2014, when he won four races and was third in the standings.

Rea was also second in the 2007 British Superbike Championship on a Honda and runner-up in World Supersport in 2008 on the marque’s bike.

In 2012, he made his only MotoGP appearances with the factory Honda team as a stand-in for the injured Casey Stoner.

He impressed in his limited time on the bike, finishing eighth at the San Marino Grand Prix and seventh at Aragon.

Rea’s success with Honda also extends to a Suzuka 8 Hours win in 2012, which he would follow up in 2019 with Kawasaki.