Jonathan Rea has emphasised that the Pata PROMETEON Yamaha team have been ‘amazing’ in the wake of his disappointing - and much discussed - tough start to the 2024 WorldSBK Championship, jokingly comparing himself to a dog eager to please its owner.

The six-time WorldSBK Champion made his high-profile debut with the 2021 WorldSBK title-winning team in Australia following his switch from Kawasaki over the winter, but despite showing promising speed during pre-season testing, struggled to dial the Yamaha R1 in over the weekend.

Failing to score a single point in any of the three races - even ending the weekend in the medical centre after a red flag triggering crash at the fast Turn 12 left-hander - it is the first time Rea has come away from a WorldSBK event without scoring since 2011*.

Despite the early set-back, Rea says the team has rallied around him in the hiatus between the Phillip Island opener and this weekend’s Catalunya WorldSBK, with an in-season test going a long way to restoring his confidence in the project.

“Since I’ve joined, Paul Denning’s been amazing. You think the issues and results we had at Phillip Island people would be a bit flat. It’s where I felt the strength in my previous team was, where you think the chips are down and people start looking at you to make the difference. 

“This team’s amazing, it’s the same or better where people get behind you and Paul’s an integral part of bringing that atmosphere. He always gets involved, wants to know what’s going on, which is nice. It’s always nice to please the boss. 

“You feel a bit like a dog: you always want to please your owner… that’s what it’s like as a motorbike rider, you always want to please your team manager and crew chief and make people happy. 

“I feel like a dog, basically! I want to finish three races and score good, strong points. To race for the win here, we need some improvements. I feel like we can fight for a podium.”

* Magny-Cours 2011, excusing Nurburgring 2014 non-score from DNF in Race 1 and DNS in Race 2