SBK Spain | Page 49

OFFICIAL PROGRAMME

FATHERS AND SONS

EXCITING CONTENT

Not so much mothers and daughters yet , but we will get there one day . As it stands there are multiple examples of riders following their fathers into racing , right to the top levels of the sport . We speak with some of those in our paddock about what it was like for them to carry on the old family business .

Son of a racing father , six-times WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea is as good place to start this short examination of what it was like to be the son of a racer . His father Johnny Rea had a strong career as a real roads racer , and like a lot of other racing dads the parental support came with the need to know that it was his son that not only wanted to be a pro racer , but had to show the determination to really want to do it . Jonathan was not one who suffered much with outside expectations or jealousy despite his father ’ s career , because the roads scene was focused in Northern Ireland and Ireland and yet Jonathan rode short circuits only .
49