Locatelli Shines with Strong P4 in Jerez Season Finale as Rea Bids Emotional Farewell to WorldSBK

Andrea Locatelli capped off the 2025 WorldSBK season with a strong P4 finish at Jerez for Pata Maxus Yamaha, while Jonathan Rea bid an emotional farewell to WorldSBK after an injury in the Superpole Race.

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Andrea Locatelli ended the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship on a high for Pata Maxus Yamaha, finishing a strong fourth place in Race 2 at Circuito de Jerez. The Italian rider gave everything right to the final lap, wrapping up the season with another impressive performance.

Starting from ninth on the grid, Locatelli fought hard in the Superpole Race, climbing to sixth position to secure a better start for the main race. From the second row in Race 2, he quickly moved up to third by Lap 3 and battled fiercely with Xavi Vierge and Alvaro Bautista. Despite losing the final podium spot midway through, Locatelli held strong to take fourth at the flag and ending the season on a confident note.

It was an emotional weekend for Jonathan Rea, who said goodbye to both WorldSBK and Yamaha. The six-time World Champion suffered a high-speed crash in the Superpole Race, injuring his right knee and ruling him out of Race 2. From the pit box, joined by his wife Tatia and sons Jake and Tyler, Rea watched his final race as a WorldSBK rider, thus closing an extraordinary chapter in his career.

Despite the setback, Rea leaves with the admiration and respect of the entire paddock, having given everything until the very end. His contribution to Yamaha and WorldSBK remains unforgettable. Pata Maxus Yamaha will stay at Circuito de Jerez for the first 2026 pre-season test on Tuesday, October 21.

Andrea Locatelli – SPRC: P6 / Race 2: P4

“First of all, I want to thank my Pata Maxus Yamaha family. The whole team worked so hard all season. We ended the year celebrating Yamaha’s 70th anniversary with special colours, and I’m proud to have been part of it. We were close to the podium again, and that’s a good way to finish. I feel really good on the R1, and now with more experience, we’ll push even harder next season. This year was excellent for me, one win and always fighting for the front. We’ll keep improving and aim even higher for 2026!”

Jonathan Rea – SPRC: DNF / Race 2: DNS

“It’s not how I wanted to finish, but I’m grateful for this amazing journey. Riding for Yamaha has been a special project with a great group of people. You can’t always write your own ending, but this weekend confirmed my decision to retire. I hope I’ll be remembered as someone who gave everything, every lap. Thank you to the WorldSBK community, all the fans, and everyone who supported me through the years. It’s been a great ride.”

Paul Denning – Team Principal, Pata Maxus Yamaha

“Jerez gave us some big challenges. Jonathan’s crashes were tough to see, and of course, we never imagined his final race would end like this. But it doesn’t change how much we respect him or appreciate his contribution to the Yamaha family. On the other side, Andrea finished strongly with fourth place after a hard-fought race. The team worked late into the night to improve the setup, and it paid off. Finishing fourth in the championship is a solid result. We’ll take this momentum into 2026 and aim for even more.”