Honda (UK) confirms it will not compete in a full-time capacity with an official team in next season’s British Superbike Championship, instead using 2014 as a development year to re-focus efforts around future racing activity in both domestic and world championship. With the title sponsorship agreement with Samsung Mobile coming to end and with number one rider and reigning British Superbike Champion, Alex Lowes seeking success on the world stage, the decision has been taken that the time was right to re-evaluate the team’s direction, re-structure and re-group, with a view to a planned full-time return to British Superbikes in 2015. The team will continue the development of the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade in 2014 and it is planned to make several guest rider ‘wild card’ appearances in British Superbike Championship, throughout the course of the season. The majority of the team’s technical staff will remain with Honda and transfer over to freshly revised Endurance World Championship race team, as Honda steps up efforts for further success on the world stage, in support of its racing projects in MotoGP, World Superbikes and on the roads at events such as the Isle of Man TT and North West 200. Nick Campolucci, Head of Motorcycles, Honda (UK) “This is not a decision we have taken lightly and it was not our preferred option but we feel that given the cumulative circumstances, it is the best course of action for us at this time. Honda goes racing to win. Unless we have the right elements in place to achieve the success on track we know we are capable of, our preferred option is to re-evaluate and re-structure for a stronger and more aligned effort. The British Superbikes series is very important to Honda UK and we plan a full return to the series in 2015.”
Thats shit news! Mind you, I could see it coming as they hadn't signed any riders. Will certainly take the edge off BSB next year. In any racing I like to see a full compliment of manufacturers present.
I know. Shakey will win, we can wrap the season up before it starts. It seems that manufacturers are unable to sustain an effort in all classes these days. Kawasaki pulling out of MOtoGP after just a couple of years, Suzuki after many years. Yamaha pulling out of WSB and now BMW. Honda out of BSB. Not sure where it all ends.
Guess like many things its money, maybe Honda feel they have had their return with previous investment and if they could not get a worthwhile additional exposure / return it was better to step sideways for a year as title holders. Maybe they have a better chance of getting global investment / support for 'World' events like the endurance rounds, or unique ones like the TT / North West 200 Also means less availability of brand new second hand things like shocks / disks / fairings which is a knock on effect
Thought buildbase had kirkham and westmoreland as there BSB lineup? Never mind I had seen the 2013 lineup. So westmoreland and kiyo is the lineup But kiyo was not competitive on his last outings bar the enduro race he won as part of a team. But the kwaks could be taking titles in both WSB and BSB this year with Sykes and Shakey both being big contenders for next season!
