Jonathan Rea Named Runner-Up In BBC Sports Personality Of The Year

Triple World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea was voted the runner-up in the prestigious BBC Television’s 2017 Sports Personality of the Year Award this evening at a star studded show in Liverpool.  The public vote took place on the night as the show was airing and when the phone lines closed Jonathan was only 3000 votes behind winner, Sir Mo Farah.

Jonathan joined 1500 other top sports stars from the UK and a 10,000 strong public audience to celebrate the highlights of the British sporting calendar at the city’s Echo Arena.

It has been an incredible year for Jonathan, winning those three world titles but also being recognized for his achievements in motorcycle racing by being awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List.

This was the first year in 10 that motorcycle sport was represented, since former Superbike Champion James Toseland was nominated in 2007. The award is voted for by the viewing public on the night and it is a significant achievement for Jonathan to come so close to winning, ahead of Formula 1 Champion Lewis Hamilton, Heavyweight Boxing World Champion Anthony Joshua and Tour de France winner, Chris Froome.

During the show Jonathan made a dramatic entry by riding his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR down the aisles and onto the stage before paying tribute to his family, his team and all those that have supported him in his career.

Jonathan stated:  “I was really shocked when my name was announced to be honest. To come second in an awards ceremony that is voted for by the public I am just so incredibly humbled and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who voted. I am sure the phone bills in Northern Ireland will be incredibly high this Christmas time.  There are so many superstars in the room, past, present and future and so many people that didn’t make the short list that perhaps deserved to, so it’s an incredible night for sport that the nation can be proud of.  Being here tonight to get this award for my sport, for myself and for my country it’s incredible and I am really honoured to put motorcycling in the spotlight at a national level in the UK.  This weekend is the icing on the cake of an incredible 2017 for me.  It’s also a perfect place to turn the page as I head to Australia tomorrow to keep going with the winter training programme and to hopefully come back stronger in 2018.”