Jonathan Rea has confirmed to join Yamaha following his departure from Kawasaki.

Moto Racing General

Jonathan Rea has confirmed to join Yamaha following his departure from Kawasaki.

Six-time World Superbike champion, Jonathan Rea has officially confirmed to join Yamaha following his departure from Kawasaki at the end of the 2023 World Superbike season.

Jonathan Rea will join Yamaha on a two-year contract from 2024 following his exit from Kawasaki.

Ulsterman Rea, the most successful World Superbike rider ever, said: “I want to thank everyone at KMC and KRT for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to prove myself at the highest level."

Rea is poised to take over the vacant seat in the Pata Yamaha team left by Toprak Razgatlioglu, who has signed for the factory BMW Motorrad team next season.

Rea joined Kawasaki in 2015 after six seasons at Honda in WSBK, with the Ulsterman going on to dominate the series aboard the ZX-10RR.

He won six consecutive championships between 2015 and 2020, setting the record for the most race victories in the process at 119.

Rea was dethroned by Razgatlioglu aboard the Yamaha in 2021, while Ducati dominator Alvaro Bautista was champion last year and is well on course to add to his tally in 2023.