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First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2018
This updated edition published 2019
SECOND EDITION
© Jonathan Rea 2018, 2019
Cover layout design Sim Greenaway © HarperCollinsPublishers 2019
Cover photography © Graeme Brown/GeeBee Images
All other photos courtesy of the author unless otherwise indicated.
While every effort has been made to trace the owners of copyright material reproduced herein and secure permissions, the publishers would like to apologise for any omissions and will be pleased to incorporate missing acknowledgements in any future edition of this book.
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Source ISBN: 9780008305109
Ebook Edition © October 2018 ISBN: 9780008305116
Version: 2019-04-02
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