Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/585066
IN THE WIND P22 IT'S OFFICIAL: NICKY HAYDEN'S OFF TO WORLD SUPERBIKE T he expected signing of Nicky Hayden to the Ten Kate Honda squad, supported by Honda Europe as their official team in WSBK racing, has been confirmed. The 2006 MotoGP World Champion for Repsol Honda will ride alongside multiple podium-scoring rookie Michael van der Mark, who has shown that there is still life left in the CBR1000RR SP before Honda brings out an expected new WSBK-homologated Fireblade in 2017. Hayden will be the first MotoGP/500cc World Champion to take on the challenge of a full sea- son in WSBK, although numerous 250/125cc GP Champions, and former MotoGP race winners, have extended their careers in WSBK racing. Significantly, Hayden is not only a major star but the first big-name American rider with a top team contract in WSBK since Ben Spies' ride with Yamaha in 2009. Like Spies, Hayden was a product of the in- tensely competitive AMA Championship in its Su- perbike heyday, and the AMA Supersport Champi- on before that, meaning that riding a Superbike is a sort of homecoming, in one major way at least. "I'm very excited, obviously, to stick with Honda; it's where I've had the most success in my career," said Hayden at the recent Japanese Mo- toGP. "World Superbikes is a championship that I followed closely as a kid when a lot of American riders were fighting at the front. It just seems like the right time and the right team to go with. I know I've got a lot to learn and it's going to be a big challenge, but also I'm very motivated to start and learn what I can." Hayden appears to acknowledge in his state- ment that his MotoGP career is behind him now. "I'd like to say thanks to everyone who has sup- ported me through my MotoGP career. We had a good run but now it's time to move on and try something different." Ten Take team manager Ronald Ten Kate is understandably stoked to have gained Hayden to run alongside the talented van der Mark, with the post-Jonathan Rea Honda WSBK era looking to a brighter future. "It's well known that, at Ten Kate, we always have been and always will be Honda. There is only one person in the world who could pos- sibly be more Honda than us, and that's Nicky Hayden!" the Dutchman said. "That's why I'm absolutely delighted that he'll be joining us for next season. He was AMA Superbike champion with Honda and we're really looking forward to bring- ing him back to his Superbike roots. By working together and using all our combined resources, I hope that in the future we can make him the first world champion in MotoGP and World Superbike. We are also looking forward to combining Nicky's experience with young Michael, who has shown really good pace and huge potential on the CBR in his first season. I think you can safely say that I'm more than happy with the lineup we have for 2016!" Hayden will first ride for the Ten Kate team, which will lose its Pata sponsorship at the end 2016, in Spanish tests in November. CN Hayden will concentrate on becoming the first MotoGP and WSBK World Champion next year.