Aoyama to join Honda WSBK team
Ten Kate Honda has completed its world Superbike line-up for 2012, with current MotoGP rider Hiroshi Aoyama to join Jonathan ReaJapan’s Hiroshi Aoyama is the latest MotoGP rider to announce he’s packing up and heading to the world Superbike title.
The 2009 250 GP world champion and current member of the San Carlo Gresini MotoGP equip will join Ten Kate Honda in 2012 to ride alongside incumbent Jonathan Rea.
Following in the footsteps of Carlos Checa, Marco Melandri and Max Biaggi, Aoyama is looking forward to this new phase in his career.
"I have raced in MotoGP for the last couple of years and it has really been a great experience for me,” said Aoyama. “I really want to thank Fausto Gresini and all the staff and technicians of Team San Carlo Honda Gresini for this extraordinary period in my career.
“Now I have the opportunity to go to world Superbike with Honda and Ten Kate Racing and I'm very excited about this new challenge. I don't know very much about Superbike but I really hope to make a good job together with my new team.”
The second seat at Ten Kate Honda has been something of a poisoned chalice in recent years, with Max Neukirchner and Ruben Xaus both struggling to make any meaningful impact.
Aoyama’s acquisition comes as Honda attempts to turn its fortunes around, with the Japanese rider more a victim of the company’s desire to contain MotoGP costs rather than anything else.
The 2012 Superbike World Championship will commence at Phillip Island from February 24-26.
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