The Ten Kate Honda team was “underestimated” during its time in WorldSBK, says Jonathan Rea.

Ten Kate was the official Honda WorldSBK team until 2018, after which Honda re-entered as a full factory effort in 2020 with the new-generation CBR1000RR-R.

The Dutch outfit worked with several landmark names in WorldSBK during its time, including James Toseland who won the world title with the team in 2007. 

Rea arrived on the scene two years later, debuting in 2009, and remained with the squad until 2014, taking 15 of his eventual 119 victories aboard a Ten Kate Honda.

Of all Rea’s wins, including the 104 he took with Kawasaki, it’s the first of all of them at Misano in 2009 that stands out, and Ten Kate’s status as a semi-factory team is a part of what makes it a special win.

“For sure, my first victory,” Jonathan Rea said during a pre-event press conference at the 2025 Spanish WorldSBK when asked which of his wins stands out. 

“We were with the Ten Kate Honda team – an amazing team, great people, and probably so underestimated. They had a lot of support from Honda Motor Europe, not so much from Honda Motor [Company] itself. 

“I think what they achieved was incredible. 

“I remember just on the Thursday morning there was new gold forks fitted to my bike – never been tested, never been used. We changed suspension manufacturers and went out and won the race against Nori Haga and Michel Fabrizio on the factory Ducatis. 

“It was a moment that you dream of: you know you can be good, you dream you can be good, but when you finally win it’s like a huge relief and a validation that you’re not just a fast rider but a very good one. I felt that was probably the best race victory of my career.”