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First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2018
FIRST EDITION
© Jonathan Rea 2018
Cover layout design by Claire Ward © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2018
Cover photography © Graeme Brown/GeeBee Images
All other photos courtesy of the author unless otherwise indicated.
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Source ISBN: 9780008305086
Ebook Edition © October 2018 ISBN: 9780008305116
Version: 2018-09-13
For Tatia, Jake and Tyler
Contents
Chapter 11: Little Feet, Itchy Feet
Chapter 13: The Grass is Greener
By Carl Fogarty
My first connection with the Rea family was more than four decades ago in 1977 when my dad, George, finished second behind Joey Dunlop in his first TT victory on the Rea Racing Yamaha sponsored by Jonathan’s grandad, John.
John Rea was a jovial Irishman who loved his racing, and I was a bit in awe of him when I first met him for my debut at the 1987 North West 200 and he gave me some words of encouragement. The family connections continued when I raced on the roads against Jonathan’s dad, Johnny. I was fourth on the bike I borrowed for the Junior race in 1989, when Johnny claimed his only TT win.
Many years later, Jonathan was one of a number of up-and-coming British lads, along with the likes of Leon Camier, Cal Crutchlow and Tom Sykes, who my Foggy Petronas Racing team considered for our final year in World Superbikes in 2006, before we finally opted for the late Craig Jones.
I don’t remember speaking to Jonathan until I answered a call from an unknown number when staggering out of a beach club in Marbella, after a couple too many shandies. He was racing for HM Plant in the British Superbike Championship in 2007 and had just received an offer from Ducati to compete in the World Superbike Championship the following year. You had to respect the lad’s confidence