Sport

Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Rea wins world superbike title

The 28-year-old becomes the first Northern Irishman to win the title since 1968

Jonathan Rea of Kawasaki Racing team celebrates on the podium after becoming the FIM Superbike World Champion during the Spanish Superbike Grand Prix held at the Jerez track Cadiz, Spain. Photo: Roman Rios/Getty Images
Jonathan Rea of Kawasaki Racing team celebrates on the podium after becoming the FIM Superbike World Champion during the Spanish Superbike Grand Prix held at the Jerez track Cadiz, Spain. Photo: Roman Rios/Getty Images
Sun Sept 20 2015 - 20:19

Jonathan Rea has won the world superbike title after finishing fourth in the opening race of the day in Jerez.

The Northern Irish rider had only needed a top-nine finish to ensure he became his nation’s first motorcycling world champion since 1968. Rea finished behind England’s Tom Sykes, the Welshman Chaz Davies and Michael van der Mark of Holland.

Ironically the race that sealed the 28-year-old’s title win also marked the first time he had finished off the podium in 21 races.

Rae went on to also finish fourth in the second race of the afternoon, which was won by Davies.

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He told BBC Sport: “I cannot quite believe it – I have been waiting for this moment for such a long time. It was a difficult race and on every lap I was thinking about the championship and I was really happy in the end.”

The Northern Ireland great Joey Dunlop won the Formula One TT title in 1968, with Brian Reid winning the Formula Two title in the same year.