Yes, that famous paint scheme is back, and doesn’t it look fantastic. It adorns a pair of Honda CBR1000RR Fireblades, prepared by Ten Kate.
The new/old team will be running Jonathan Rea and Ruben Xaus – we knew that already – but what we didn’t know is that Honda has invested heavily into WSB, commissioning Ten Kate to run its operation and bringing in a famous former sponsor, and current technical partner, Castrol, into the mix. The paint scheme has been designed in Italy, and reflects the heritage of the old scheme, last seen in 2002, but with a new modern team. So that’s the paint, what about the team? Well the trucks are heading for Spain for a test at Aragon where we should know more. Head to castrolhondasbk.com for more info. Meanwhile, here’s the PR talk…
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Ronald ten Kate – manager, Castrol Honda World Superbike Team:
“When our world championship racing adventure was first beginning, many years ago now, Castrol Honda was the one team in the paddock which everyone looked up to, whose professional and performance standards we all wanted to achieve. It is an honour for us now to be racing under this famous and historically successful banner and we are privileged to be following in the footsteps of the team we admired so much in the past. You can be sure that everyone in the Ten Kate Racing organisation – riders, mechanics, and all the workshop staff – will give 100% commitment to this really exciting new phase of our World Superbike campaign.
Jonathan Rea – #4:
“One of my main inspirations for racing was watching Castrol Honda’s Colin Edwards battle Troy Bayliss for the World Superbike championship in that epic season in 2002. It’s a real honour for me to be racing under those same famous colours for the 2011 season and I’ll be trying my hardest to recreate what Colin did for the Castrol Honda team. I think the bike looks fantastic and I know the Ten Kate guys back at the workshop have been working really hard on its technical development since last season finished so now I just can’t wait to get started.”
Ruben Xaus – #111:
“After many years of racing at world championship level it is very nice and important for me to be part of a big project like the new Castrol Honda team. The biggest motorcycle manufacturer in the world is joining together with one of the biggest lubricants companies in the world and supporting the Ten Kate team, which has had a lot of success with many world championship titles. All together it’s a big and really exciting mixture and I will give my talent and every effort to help Castrol and the Honda CBR1000RR become a regular winning partnership in the 2011 championship.”
