Van der Mark to Honda WSBK
The talented Dutchman will compete in the 2015 world superbike title after victory in this year’s Supersport World ChampionshipHonda's new world supersport champion Michael van der Mark has signed a two-year agreement with Pata Honda to compete in the 2015 and 2016 editions of the Superbike World Championship.
The 21-year-old, who secured the 2014 world supersport title with two rounds to spare at Jerez on September 7, will ride the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP from next season, with his teammate yet to be announced – but believed to be Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli with 2014 incumbents Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam set to depart at season's end.
“I'm really, really happy with this next step. It's been going in two-year stages for me with the team, so this next stage in world superbikes is fantastic and really exciting,” he said. “It's a good and safe place to be with Honda for 2015 and 2016. I've had a great experience with this team for the last two years and there was never really any question that I would be going anywhere else.
“World Superbikes in 2015 is going to be really interesting – there are new technical regulations and I think there will be a few surprises next year. Although the electronics will be a big change for me, I have shown that I can ride a superbike and now I really can't wait to get started.
Although he has raced on Honda's CBR600RR for four years -- winning the European Superstock 600 championship in 2012 before stepping up to world supersport in 2013 -- van der Mark is no stranger to the CBR1000RR.
The Dutch rider has won the last two editions of the prestigious Suzuka 8-hour world endurance race in Japan, impressing many with his outright pace on the larger machine.
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