Rider Profile 

Gino Rea was already tipped for success before he clinched the 2009 European Superstock 600 Championship at Portimao in October 2009. But when he lapped within a second of the time set by World Supersport race winner Eugene Laverty – and faster than twice World Champion Andrew Pitt had managed – at the same circuit a few days later aboard a factory Yamaha World Supersport R6, the 20-year-old Londoner suddenly became the talk of the World Superbike paddock...

Gino went on to clinch a ride with the Intermoto Czech Honda team for the 2010 World Supersport Championship. In his debut race the young Londoner, the youngest in the series, finished a fighting 10th place at the season opener at Phillip Island, a track he had never seen before. Rea went on to showcase his talent to finish 8th at Portimao beating his more experienced team mate to the line, 6th at Valencia and 7th at Assen, putting him 6th in the World Championship after four rounds. The young Londoner continued to progress and finished 4th in front of the Intermoto home crowd at Brno, Czech Republic. Gino followed this up with his first Podium 3rd place at his home race, Silverstone; a dream come true in a debut season. Then came Nurburgring where Rea went one better to finish 2nd, after battling wheel-to-wheel for the victory with Eugene Laverty. A techinal fault dropped him out of 3rd position in the final 2010 WSS race; which if Gino had finished, would have been 5th overall in the World Supersport Championship standings. But instead, was bumped back to 9th, still a top 10 finish and top rookie.

2011 has seen a problem plagued season for Gino's team, ranging from engine to electronic bike problems. Although, Gino has been riding the bike to it's full potential and managed to score a podium at his home race at Donington Park. After some bike issues in the next races Gino then bought his and the team their first World Championship WIN at their home race at Brno, a dream come true for all the team. Rea went on to qualify on the front row at Silverstone and would battle at the front of the pack before another rider hit Gino from behind, causing him to run off circuit. Rea re-joined in 9th place and managed to use his fast pace to catch up to the leading 3 on the final lap, Gino lined of Foret for a pass but slid off the bike on the penultimate corner. Rea got the bike back up and managed to score 11th position. The next race takes place at Nurburgring on Sept 4th.

Prior to 2009 

Gino had run for two years in the European Superstock 600 Championship. In 2007 he was part of the Beowulf racing team which then morphed into the StoneBaker squad for 2008. Over the two years Gino finished in twelfth and third place overall, with his best result being a win at Portimao in 2008. The StoneBaker outfit scaled back its operation for 2009 so Gino moved to the junior arm of the Dutch Ten Kate team riding a CBR600 Honda. Ten Kate are one of the major teams in the World Superbike paddock, having won the premier class title in 2007, along with an unbroken seven-year run of championship victories in the World Supersport class between 2002 – 2008. However, they had never scooped a European Superstock title – until now!

Another matter to be borne in mind when considering Gino’s achievement this year is that it was generally accepted that the Yamaha R6’s of his rivals had a speed advantage over his Honda. Gino did not win this championship by simply having the fastest bike!