Rea To Sit Out Cremona Race

Six time FIM Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea has been forced to sit out the ninth round of the 2024 championship at Cremona in Italy this weekend.

Rea withdrew from the French Round in Magny-Cours following a crash at the end of Lap 1 in Race 1 and underwent emergency surgery in Clermont-Ferrand on September 7. The Northern Irishman has since focused on recovery at home, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions to assist healing. 

Based on current medical advice, both from his surgeon in France and his local medical team in Northern Ireland, Jonathan will miss the Italian Round in order to allow the skin graft and internal repairs to his right thumb to fully heal – with eyes firmly fixed on a return in Aragon next week.

Yamaha’s Official Test and Development Rider, Niccolò Canepa, will replace Rea on the Pata Prometeon Yamaha R1 WorldSBK in Cremona this weekend.

Jonathan Rea said: “I’m disappointed having to sit out this weekend in Cremona. After speaking with Dr Antonie Martens who performed the surgery in France and Dr Michael McBride who is following my case at home in Belfast, both insist that the tendon graft and skin grafts on my right thumb need a little more time to heal and avoid any set backs. I am doing everything at home to be back at 100% as soon as possible. Thanks to everyone who is standing with me during this tough time”