Jonathan Rea
“I don’t think about anything else than winning – just to be the best that I can be,” Jonathan Rea.
Six times world superbike champion Jonathan Rea is the last ‘Homemade Hero’ to be featured in the UTV series of the same name.
The Larne man shares his amazing story with producer Ali Fleming. He shares some amazing home video footage of his early days racing, and he charts his career, including the very long list of injuries he has sustained over the years!
We also get a lovely glimpse into family life with his wife Tarsh and his two young boys. Even icons have to do the school run!
Racing is in his blood – his dad was a road racer and his grandfather was involved in the sponsorship of races, and his destiny was sealed when he got a 50cc bike from Santa at just aged two!
His first superbike race was in 2003 when he was offered to take part in a rookie event but it was only when he actually earned some money from racing that his parents allowed him to pursue it as a career.
He also explains how the sport is so competitive nowadays with rider physical fitness being just as important as skill on the track. He talks about the changes over the past 15 years, where he comments“….ground breaking athletes change the game, we have to take it seriously.”
‘HOMEMADE HEROES’ is a UTV production, produced and narrated by Alison Fleming, and is sponsored by EZ Living Interiors.
You can watch this episode on UTV on Thursday 21st December at 8.30pm, and after transmission will be available on ITVX - go to Categories, News, choose ‘UTV’ as your region, and scroll across to find the programme.