In the opening round of the 2023 Superbike World Championship, held at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on February 25-26, Jonathan Rea achieved a podium finish amidst a tight battle for the lead.
Jonathan Rea fought hard for the lead in Race 1 under wet conditions with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati), ultimately finishing 2nd. He struggled with the setup of his bike in the Superpole Race and Race 2, finishing 7th and 8th, respectively. Teammate Alex Lowes crashed and retired in Race 1 and Race 2, but finished 4th in the Superpole Race and scored points.
Hitachi Astemo continues to sponsor the Kawasaki Racing Team this season, and provides the suspension (Front Fork and Rear Cushion).