Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 1

With just ten days until the World Superbike championship kicks off in Australia MCN will be following the build up to the race with Hannspree Ten Kate man Jonathan Rea.

The 22 year old Brit has already done a year on the world scene so should at least know how to get to each track, but as you’ll read in day one of his  MCN diary that’s not the case.

“Well I left Birmingham airport at 8.30pm on Sunday night and I arrived in Melbourne Australia and 7am this morning (Tuesday).

“I went via Dubai and met up with Eugene (Laverty) and his girlfriend Pippa so got to sit next to them on the plane. Eugene isn’t testing this week so he’s gone up to the Gold Coast for a week before coming down for the race.

“The drive from the airport to the track was pretty eventful. There is a huge bay at the bottom of Melbourne and somehow we managed drive down the wrong side and ended up in a place called Geelong.

“We finally got it sorted but then got lost again. After a bit of a road rage incident with a Wide Load truck and two escort vehicles we got to Phillip Island at 2pm, we should have arrived at 10.30am.

“Since being here we checked into our apartment in Cowes and headed to the beech and spent a bit of time playing football.

“I decided not to go to the track because I know I’ll just find it really frustrating having to watch when I can’t ride. We went out for dinner tonight and met up with a few of the teams and the gossip is that the Aprilia was going really well.

“I spoke with the Birdy Kawasaki team and they reckon Biaggi was in the mid 1m 33s and looking comfortable and consistent. I don’t know if that is good or bad until I can get out on track myself at the weekend.

“OK it’s late here now, but I’m going to try and stay up a bit longer and try and get into Australia time so that I can deal with the jetlag.”

“Speak tomorrow!”