Jonathan Rea has signed a new contract with Kawasaki’s factory WorldSBK team for two more years.

The three-time world champion who lives in Castletown had several options for 2019 and beyond but has elected to stay loyal to Kawasaki and the WorldSBK championship paddock he has ridden in since 2008.

Rea has secured three consecutive World Championships since he joined the Akashi-based manufacturer in 2015.

Rea and Kawasaki has been a winning partnership since their first season together, with Rea becoming the most successful WorldSBK rider ever, in terms of race wins, at the most recent event in Brno.

Over the past three-and-a-half seasons Jonathan has enjoyed a wins-per-race ratio of just under 50 per cent since he joined Kawasaki. He is already the most successful Kawasaki WorldSBK rider in history, with his 45 victories taken on either the Ninja ZX-10R or Ninja ZX-10RR.

Rea stated: ’I am more than happy to continue with the Kawasaki Racing Team.

’Since the end of last season we started to talk about continuing our partnership, so it’s nice to finalise everything now, so that we can concentrate on the remaining races of 2018.

’From the moment I arrived at the end of 2014 I was welcomed into the Kawasaki family and since then we have achieved success beyond our wildest dreams.

’Here is where I want to stay. Of course it feels natural to keep writing this incredible story together and I want to thank everyone in the Kawasaki team for believing in me and for this opportunity.

’Together we will work harder than ever to keep the ZX-10RR at the front of WorldSBK in the future. I have the best team of people around me to ensure that we can continue fighting for the World Championship.’