Kawasaki Racing Team crew chief Pere Riba says the triple World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea could win in MotoGP with the “right team and right people”, although that time is not quite yet, with the Northern Irish rider re-signing to stay with Kawasaki in the WSBK paddock for at least the next two seasons.

Rea – who raced twice in the premier class with Honda in 2012 as the injured Casey Stoner‘s replacement – revealed during last month’s Donington Park round that he had factory offers to go to MotoGP next year.

However, the current championship leader has agreed a new two-year deal to remain in WSBK with Kawasaki.

Riba said history has shown WSBK riders have struggled to find success in MotoGP but that “history is to change”, and Rea’s record 60 victories achieved at Brno as well as his three successive titles means he could be successful in the premier class now.

Rea joined the Provec-run factory Kawasaki squad in 2015 from the Ten Kate Honda team, and has dominated WSBK for the past three years to become the first rider to win three-successive titles.

Rea has taken 45 victories with KRT since 2015, and during the Brno round on June 10 he beat Carl Fogarty’s tally of 59 career wins with his 60th in race one.

By securing the world title this season, it would equal the crowns taken by Fogarty who reigned in WSBK throughout the 1990’s, and is a hero to many on the grid today. Fogarty took the world title wins in 1994, 1995, 1998 and 1999, all with Ducati.

Rea admitted during the Donington round on May 27 that he was “evaluating” offers to go to MotoGP next year, which he indicated were from factory outfits, but also revealed he was in talks to remain with Kawasaki after receiving a deal he was “excited about”.

“I am more than happy to continue in these next two seasons with the Kawasaki Racing Team,” Rea, who sits 65 points in the lead of the current standings, said.

Britain’s Chaz Davies is currently second in the WSBK standings.

“Since the end of last season we have already started to talk about continuing our partnership, so it’s nice to finalise everything now, so that we can concentrate on the remaining races of 2018.

“From the moment I arrived at the end of 2014 I was welcomed into the Kawasaki family and since then we have achieved success beyond our wildest dreams.

“Here is where I want to stay. Of course it feels natural to keep writing this incredible story together, and I want to thank everyone in the Kawasaki Racing Team for believing in me and for this opportunity.”

The next round of the WSBK series is set for Laguna Seca, in the United States, this weekend.

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