Overview

• Rea confirmed his decision in a video message, saying this is not goodbye and that he plans to stay involved in the sport in a different capacity.
• He departs as WorldSBK’s most decorated rider with six consecutive titles from 2015 to 2020, 119 wins, 264 podiums and a record 459 race starts.
• The final two seasons on Yamaha were hampered by injuries and limited results, with one podium, as the manufacturer acknowledged the partnership did not play out as hoped.
• Four rounds remain in his full-time career, starting at Magny-Cours on September 5–7, with Yamaha pledging a push for strong send-off results.
• Rivals and former colleagues, including Toprak Razgatlioglu, Kawasaki leadership and ex-crew chief Pere Riba, issued tributes, while reports suggest 2026 options such as a satellite Ducati seat did not materialize.