Jonathan Rea is third favourite to be crowned 2017 BBC Sports Personality of the Year in Liverpool this weekend.

The annual event is taking place at the Liverpool Echo Arena this Sunday evening when the public can vote for who they think should be crowned as Britain’s leading sportsman or woman for the last 12 months.

Castletown resident Rea enjoyed a simply sensational 2017, becoming the first rider to clinch three successive World Superbike titles and breaking Colin Edwards’s 15-year-old points record in a single season.

Rea is now only five wins behind the all-time record of 59 held by four-time champion Carl Fogarty. On top of that, the resident Ulsterman was also made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, which he received recently.

Earlier this month Rea became the first motorcycle rider to make the shortlist since former island resident James Toseland’s bid 10 years ago in 2007, when he finished fourth in the public vote.

Toseland himself is full of praise for Rea: ’It’s amazing to have that level of consistency, dedication and focus. It’s unheard of. Jonny Rea won as many races this year as I did in my whole career. It’s an incredible feat when you look at the stats. Racing at 200mph, you need a level of focus to not make a mistake.

’I think he can beat Carl Fogarty’s record of four titles. He’s definitely up there as one of the greatest superbike riders, without question.’

At the time of going to press, boxing’s world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua remained the bookies’ tip to clinch the prestigious award at 1/7 odds-on favourite.

Four-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton was second favourite at 6/1, but Rea was at 33/1 alongside England footballer Harry Kane and 10,000m World Champion Mo Farah.

Speaking to Motor Cycle News earlier this week, Rea admitted he was flattered to be called the WSBK greatest of all time by Fogarty.

’Carl really appreciates what I do on track, he is sending me messages after races and it’s really nice to have that kind of support.

’He has always spoken very highly of me compared to the other riders I race against, so to get his blessing means a lot. He is the greatest of all time and to hear that he rates me so highly is nice.

’I am so excited to have been nominated for the 2017 SPOTY Awards. To be recognised personally, as well as for motorcycling in general, amongst the best athletes in Britain is a huge honour.

Supporters will be able to vote for Jonathan either via phone or the BBC website when the voting opens during a live show at the Echo Arena on Sunday which begins at 6.45pm.

If you wish to vote online you will need to sign in to a BBC account at www.bbc.co.uk

Find out how Rea gets on in Tuesday’s Examiner