IN
THE
WIND
P46
RED BULL ANNOUNCED AS HONDA
WORLDSBK SPONSOR
R
ed Bull has been
unveiled as the
title sponsor for the
Honda WorldSBK team
in a ceremony at their
Hangar 7 facilities in
Salzburg, Austria, Feb-
ruary 6.
Team riders Nicky
Hayden and new team-
mate Stefan Bradl will
debut the Red Bull
colors in two weeks at
the final preseason test
at Phillip Island ahead
of round one, as they
continue development
on their brand new
Honda CBR1000RR
SP2 machines.
"It's a new year with a
new bike, new title part-
ner and new teammate,
so there are definitely
many changes ahead
and a lot of things
to look forward to,"
Hayden said in Austria.
"This is my second
year in World Super-
bike so I hope to take
the experience I made
last year and take it up
to the next level. I'm
really glad to get back
together with Red Bull,
who I have represented
in the past, and it's a
great opportunity for
me. We have to focus
now on the job ahead
and work as hard as
we can in order to be
ready for the season
opener. The level of the
competition is higher
than ever and we have
a big job ahead of us,
but everybody is really
motivated and I cannot
wait to get started."
WorldSBK rookie
Bradl is optimistic
about the season
ahead, having called
time on a MotoGP ca-
reer that saw him ride
for Honda and finally
Aprilia last season.
"It's a whole new
experience for me, and
a new championship
where I've never raced
before," Bradl said.
"It's going to be a very
interesting partnership
with Honda and Red
Bull, which is undoubt-
edly an amazing brand,
and one that has been
supporting me for my
whole racing career.
I'm really happy to be
a Red Bull athlete and
even happier now that
it has also become the
team's title partner. We
have the chance to
represent the brand in
each and every event
all around the world,
so I'm really excited
about that. We have a
new Fireblade for the
season, so it will take a
little bit of time to dial it
in but we'll do our best
to take it to the top as
soon as possible. All in
all, it's a great project
and step by step we will
make it a successful
one." CN
Looking sharp, boys!
Hayden (left) and Bradl
will be flying the Red Bull
colors in 2017.
