Castrol Honda Returns to WSBK

Motorcycle.com Staff
by Motorcycle.com Staff

Castrol Honda Returns to WSBK

Iconic racing partnership returns in 2011
By Motorcycle.Com Staff, Jan. 18, 2011
Castrol and Honda are reuniting for the return of an iconic World Superbike race team.

The lubricant brand will be the title sponsor the Ten Kate Racing, reforming the Castrol Honda team. Castrol and Honda first partnered in 1959 with Hondas debut in the Isle of Man TT and in 2009, they celebrated 50 years of racing together.

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, says Ronald ten Kate, team manager. It is an honor 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 organization riders, mechanics, and all the workshop staff will give 100% commitment to this really exciting new phase of our World Superbike campaign.

Castrol Honda last raced in 2002 with Colin Edwards capturing the WSBK title by winning the last nine races of the season culminating with the Showdown at Imola duel against Ducati Infostradas Troy Bayliss.

Castrol Honda also won the WSBK title with Edwards in 2000 and with John Kocinski in 1997.

For 2011, Castrol Honda will enter Jonathan Rea and Ruben Xaus in the red white and green.

Jonathan Rea says watching Colin Edwards battling Troy Bayliss for Castrol Honda was one of his inspirations.

One of my main inspirations for racing was watching Castrol Hondas Colin Edwards battle Troy Bayliss for the World Superbike championship in that epic season in 2002, says Rea who finished fourth in the 2010 standings with four wins. Its a real honor for me to be racing under those same famous colors for the 2011 season and Ill 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 cant wait to get started.

Ruben Xaus is trying to bounce back after two disappointing seasons with BMW.

For more pictures of the team and its CBR1000RR in race livery, visit our Castrol Honda WSBK team gallery.

Would you like us to deliver Motorcycle.com Articles in your mail box once a week? Simply submit your e-mail address below !Get Motorcycle.com in your Inbox
Motorcycle.com Staff
Motorcycle.com Staff

Motorcycle.com presents an unrivaled combination of bike reviews and news written by industry experts

More by Motorcycle.com Staff

Comments
Join the conversation
Next