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Jonathan Rea is chomping at the bit, while he's still recovering from his accident in the last practice session, before the start of the 2025 SBK season. Forced to miss the opening round at Phillip Island, as well as the one scheduled in Portugal at the end of March, the Yamaha rider expressed all his regrets on the official website of the series.
"The rehabilitation is going well, but it's frustrating to be home and not be able to do so many things," he admitted. "Two weeks after the surgery on my left foot, the pain has greatly diminished. I'm doing everything I can to try to get back on track and in top form quickly. The outcome of the tests has really motivated me, so I'll try to force the pace, even if I have to be careful."
In order to be able to get his helmet and suit back on as soon as possible, the rider from Northern Ireland is adopting the attitude he'd have when preparing for a race weekend. "I've taken everything into consideration. Diet and, of course, the hyperbaric chamber that I now have at home. Things like ultrasound for bone healing can give you benefits on your path towards recovery. I want to proceed with as much commitment and care as if it were one of the race weekends," he explained.
Despite his good will, the 38-year-old rider is still in a cast. "I was hoping to take it off sooner, but I have to be patient. My foot is a very important part of my body, and I have to take care of it. Should it become necessary to keep the cast on for a few more weeks, I'll do so. Afterwards, the idea is to wear a brace and have more flexibility, making it easier to shower!" he stressed.
In spite of the well-known critical issues that come with an immobilized limb, the rider has already started training again. "Watching TV racing has disheartened me," he admitted. "But I got over it. In the gym, I managed to work on my torso and neck, and I even went for a walk with my dog and Tarsh (ed. his wife), thanks to a small scooter we bought. It was good to get out! Once I get the brace on, I can go to the pool and do other activities. Right now, I'm being guided by the specialists and a personal coach."
However, his great desire to get back into the fray hasn't caused the six-time winner in the category to lose his clarity. And he's still undecided about a debut date. "Skipping an extra race to allow for more recovery is sometimes better. Obviously, I want to get back on track as soon as possible and at one-hundred percent, but we're talking about a high-level championship, so I'll only return when I know I can give it my all, since this is what we deserve as a team," he philosophically concluded.
