Rea crashes out

Jonathan Rea is sitting out the afternoon on the first day of the BSB three-day test at Guadix today, after a nasty crash this morning saw him bash the injured left knee which is only just coming back to fitness.

Rea unexpectedly lost the rear of his HM Plant Honda Fireblade at the track’s fast turn five left-hander, a third gear 90mph corner, and jarred the knee when he landed in the gravel.

He has opted to sit out the session after lunch, and is using an ice pack to reduce swelling.

He said: “I don’t know why it went. The knee hurts and is stiff, but I don’t think it’s that bad. After the operation for the injury I had last year there was a screw left in it which sticks out a bit, and I think I’ve just whacked it, so it’s sore but not serious.”

Aside from the incident, Rea is continuing to impress in his first week of rides on the HRC bike he will race alongside reigning champ Ryuichi Kiyonari this year.

He was fastest on each of three days testing earlier this week at Almeria, and he said: “The bike feels lovely, and every time we do something to it we are progressing forward.”

HM Plant are joined again at the test by Rizla Suzuki and Stobart Honda. The test continues after lunch.