WorldSBK, Sportrik Media - Jonathan Rea says he is feeling more comfortable with Honda ahead of the 2026 WorldSBK Dutch Round at Assen, following a challenging return at Portimao earlier this season.
The six-time world champion has once again been called up to replace Jake Dixon, who remains sidelined due to injuries sustained in a testing crash at Phillip Island prior to the opening round. This marks Rea’s second appearance of the 2026 campaign after scoring four points with a 12th-place finish in Race 2 at Portimao.
At the Portuguese round, Jonathan Rea admitted he was not physically ready, having undergone multiple surgeries during the off-season to address injuries from his previous two years with Yamaha. That lack of preparation affected his adaptation to the Honda package under full race conditions.
However, preparations for Assen have been more structured following a private test last week. Additional data gathered from Portimao, combined with testing feedback, has provided a clearer technical direction for both rider and team in refining the bike setup.
“Assen brings back a lot of good memories and it’s another opportunity to get more mileage on the bike,” Rea told WorldSBK.com.
“I’ve been testing last week. I’m feeling more comfortable and more prepared coming to Assen than I did at Portimao.”
Rea explained that the Portimao weekend was used as an exploratory phase, where the team tested multiple setup directions to better understand the limits of the bike. That process now offers a more stable baseline heading into the Dutch round.
“We’ve been trying to find a bike I’m comfortable with. Portimao gave us the chance to explore different directions and be more aggressive with setup ideas.”
“This weekend, we can apply that with much more data from Portimao and last week’s test.”
Assen also represents one of Rea’s most successful circuits, with a total of 17 victories at the Dutch venue throughout his WorldSBK career. That experience is expected to play a crucial role as he continues adapting to the Honda machinery.
“Seventeen wins is a huge number, especially at one track,” he said.
“When I was 20, I signed with Ten Kate Honda and we did a lot of testing here in WorldSSP, so I know Assen very well.”
Rea highlighted the technical demands of Assen, particularly its flowing layout and the importance of precision through the final sector, including the iconic last chicane.
“It’s a track that always delivers great racing, and there are many technical details to understand. Over the years, riders have learned those characteristics.”
“I love the track and the atmosphere. There’s no better feeling than coming into the final chicane and seeing full grandstands.”
With improved physical condition and a more refined technical baseline, the Assen weekend presents a key opportunity for Jonathan Rea to demonstrate progress with Honda. The outcome of this third round will provide a clearer indication of his competitiveness heading into the next phase of the 2026 WorldSBK season.
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