The retirement from competitions of Jonathan Rea was supposed to take place at the end of last season, with the six-time world champion then continuing only in the role of test rider for the Honda HRC team. Instead, the injury suffered by Jake Dixon in Australia forced the Japanese team to call the Northern Irishman back to the track for the last event in Portimão, but not only that.
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For the Dutch Round, which will be held from April 17 to 19 on the historic Assen circuit, Rea will once again replace Dixon, who, although continuing his recovery after surgery on his left wrist, will not be able to debut in time for the third round of the world championship. The confirmation came directly from the team’s statement: “At the Pirelli Dutch Round in Assen, the Honda HRC team will field Somkiat Chantra and Jonathan Rea, who will continue to replace Jake Dixon, whose recovery is progressing well and in line with expectations. The British rider aims to return to action in the fourth round of the season, the Motul Hungarian Round scheduled from May 1 to 3, subject to medical clearance.”
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As indicated by the team, therefore, the British rider will only take to the track at the Hungarian Round, provided he passes the medical exams before the weekend. Meanwhile, Dixon himself happily expressed the state of his recovery: “X-rays showed that the bones are healing. Another step, and it’s nice to let the wrist breathe after six weeks and start physiotherapy as soon as possible. Let’s gooooooo.” Rea, who scored points only in Race 2 in Portugal, will face another weekend in the Cathedral of Speed, where he has won 17 times in his career.
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