QUEEN’S HONOURS NORTHERN IRELAND SPORTING HERO JONATHAN REA  

11 December 2019

One of Northern Ireland’s most widely recognised sporting ambassadors and the undisputed king of World Superbikes, Jonathan Rea MBE, received an honorary Doctorate of the University (DUniv) from Queen’s at the opening ceremony of Winter Graduation Week (Tuesday 10 December, 2019).

Jonathan Rea is one of the world’s top professional motorcycle racers and holds a record number of championship wins, race victories, and career points. He is currently competing with the Kawasaki Racing Team and has won the World Superbike Championships a record five times in a row, making him statistically the most successful rider in the competition’s history.

In 280 races during his career, Rea has an impressive 168 podiums, 88 race wins and 67 fastest laps. He has won the Irish Motorcyclist of the Year for the last 4 years.

Delivering the citation Head of Queen’s Sport, Liz McLaughlin said: “Jonathan Rea’s life may sound like an effortless story, but don’t be misled. It has involved grit and determination, and it certainly has not been pain free.

“His autobiography is called Dream, Believe. Achieve and he certainly epitomises all three of those.  

“Jonathan deserves his place among our greatest sporting heroes of modern times – Karl Frampton, Rory McIlroy and Tony McCoy. He is proud of the place he came from, a wonderful ambassador for Northern Ireland and an inspiration for young people everywhere to get involved in sport, whatever it may be.”

Responding to the latest honour, Mr Rea said: “It is a great privilege for me to be awarded this honour by Queen’s University Belfast. As well as being a local university of international standing in research and education, Queen’s punches above its weight in its commitment to sporting excellence.

“Through its Elite Athlete programme the University allows students from a range of sporting backgrounds to raise their ambition through sport, as well as gaining a world-class education and I feel that should be celebrated.”

A native of County Antrim, Jonathan Rea was born into a motorcycle-racing family. He has been riding since he was two and racing since he was six.  

Awarded an MBE in 2017, he was runner-up in the same year to Sir Mo Farah at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, being the first motorcyclist to be shortlisted in a decade. He also received the Freedom of the Borough of Antrim and Newtownabbey and, last month, was honoured with a prestigious FIM award in Monaco.

Though he competes all over the world, Mr Rea currently resides in Templepatrick, County Antrim with his wife Tarsh and sons Jake (6) and Tyler (4). He recently published his autobiography Dream. Believe. Achieve. My Autobiography.

Queen's awards honorary degrees to individuals who have achieved high distinction or given significant service in one or more fields of public or professional life, and who serve as ambassadors for the University and Northern Ireland around the world.

For media enquiries, please contact Queen’s University Communications Office, Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 3091.

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