Jonathan Lea is scheduled to return to the race at this weekend’s WorldSBK Italian round, which took place at the Cremona Circuit from May 2-4. The Northern Ireland rider said he was “very excited” when he returned several months after the injury.
REA crashed during a final world superbike preseason test held on Philip Island in mid-February, suffering from multiple fractures in his left foot.
Rea says the injury is “a lot more severe than initially expected,” but now, more than two months later, he’s only a few days away.
“We are very excited to be back in Cremona after a continuous series of injuries on Philip Island,” Lea said ahead of this weekend’s Italian round.
“It feels like a very long few months, but I have recovered strength and function in my left foot in the last three to four weeks. The injury was much more severe than initially expected.
Rea added that despite last year’s timeout and his Cremona’s absence, he feels ready to come back.
“I feel confident and ready. Cremona is a track I’ve never raced before, but I managed to get a few laps in Tests last season.
“I’m so happy to be back with the team and ride the Yamaha R1. As I was away, the team made some major improvements in Locatelli, including his first victory at Assen, and achieved great results.
“I can’t wait to see you guys, and I look forward to riding again with a smile on my face.
Rea’s return is also a boost to the team, the Pata Yamaha team, in the strong moment after Andrea Locatelli’s Maiden victory at Assen two weeks ago.
“Jonathan (Rare) is coming back with us after giving us so much commitment to recover from a really troublesome injury,” added Paul Denning, team principal at Pata Yamaha.
“This is a good sign for the rest of the season as he shows how badly he wants to still race and win.
“Cremona isn’t the easiest track to return. We need to treat this as our first step back on the road to JR’s competitiveness, but we look forward to giving both him and Roca everything they need to maximize their potential.”