Rea to stay with Ten Kate Honda for 2011

The Northern Irishman plots a 2011 World Superbike title challenge with the team he first joined in 2008.
Rea, German WSBK Race 2 2010
Rea, German WSBK Race 2 2010
© Gold and Goose

Jonathan Rea has quelled speculation he will race elsewhere in the 2011 World Supe♌rbike Championship by confirm🌊ing he will see out the second season of his two-year deal with Ten Kate Honda

Rea penned a two-year contract with the leading Honda team towards the end ꦆof 200🎉9, but recent rumours had suggested he could land elsewhere for next season.

Nonetheless, the Northern Irishman will stay where he is for 2011 having enjoyed a strong end to the 2010 season, one that has seen him finish no lower t💝han second in the last six races, which coupled to his two wins at Assen earlier in the year has all but confirmed him in third position overall.

While Rea hints that h�🍌�e looked elsewhere for 2011, he concludes that continuity is crucial for him if he wants to step up and challenge for next year's title.

"I'm really happy to be staying with this fantastic team for another season. We're all pullingꦅ in the same direction and we're all really excited about the prospects for the Honda CBR🎀1000RR.

"Even though I'm still only 23, the team has taught me a𒁃n enormous amount about world championship racing, both on the track and off it an💙d I've become a regular race winner.

"To become a championship winner, I recognise that I need continuity and that's what I've got now. It's no secret that my ultimate ambition is t💛o compete in GPs but I'll still only be 24 next season so I'm really happy to aim for the World Superbike title in 2011 and then hopefully take the next step forward after that within the Honda family."

Team manager Ronald ten Kate was also pleased to🍸 be retaining Rea, wℱho has notched up 18 podiums in less than two years with the team.

"It's good to see a rider of Jonathan's calibre spend his entire career to date with the Honda family. At the beginning of this agreement, it was always the intention of the rider, the team and Honda to stay together and we are very happ🧜y to see that realised now.

"Jonathan🦋 joined us in Supersport ranks in 2008 and his raw talent has combined with a great attitude and personality to turn him into a race winner. Next year, our only aim will be to turn that race winner into a cha🎃mpionship winner."

Rea joined Ten Kate Honda in 2008, finishing runner-up in the World Supersport Championship before graduating to Superbikꦫes with the Dutcꩵh-based team. He went on to win two races in his rookie season on the way to fifth overall.

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