Jonathan Rea may have joked on Twitter yesterday that he wished he spoke Italian so he could have persuaded Fausto [Gresini] to let him ride the team’s RCV in 2013, as he was one of the three or four riders tipped to be on Gresini’s shortlist for the satellite ride, instead Rea has decided to stay in World Superbikes and with Honda Ten Kate for another year, making it his fifth season with the manufacturer.
As we’ve already anticpated Rea’s new team mate will be Leon Haslam.
For Haslam it will be return to Honda machinery after three years (he rode a Honda in 2008 and 2008) and Ten Kate also confirmed that Italian snack manufacturer Pata will be the new title sponsor and the team will be known as Pata Honda World Superbike – Pata will be also be sponsoring Honda’s World Supersport team that will field Michael van der Mark and Lorenzo Zanetti next season, with the Italian switching to World Supersports after a year on a Ducati Superbike.
Jonathan Rea said, “I’m happy to continue my partnership with Honda in this exciting championship.
I’ve been loyal to Honda my whole career and that’s because I believe in them as a company and I believe that we can achieve more together in the future.
It’s no secret that we’ve been lacking in certain areas but I know there is a team of determined and dedicated guys working away both at the races and at the workshop to improve the bike and to try and be a consistent front runner for next season.
They’ve got some very exciting plans for 2013 and beyond, and I’m sure that with a strong team-mate like Leon, we can all work together to make next season memorable for all the right reasons.
” Ronald ten Kate – team managerAs we all know, Honda is a company whose history is based on racing.
Ten Kate Racing is the same, and to find a new partner that is so passionate about our sport seems to be a perfect fit for us.
We are truly excited and honoured to join forces with Pata for next year.
Our new Superbike rider line-up with Jonathan and Leon is stronger than ever and, on the technical side, there will be a lot of upgrades for next season on all fronts, so we really can’t wait for 2013 to start.
We are back to full strength with our Supersport effort and have two exciting riders.
With Lorenzo we have a lot of experience and talent and in Michael we have a direct product of our Junior programme, who also happens to be our first Dutch rider, which makes us all very proud.
Remo Gobbi – president, Pata S.
p.
A.
We have been in the World Superbike paddock for many years but never before have we worked with an official team such as this.
Now we are very happy to have this important partnership with Honda, which is the biggest and best motorcycle manufacturer.
Of course, we are all looking forward to great results and I think that, with the experience of this team and its riders, we can achieve those results.
Pata is committed to quality in its manufacturing and is passionate about motorsport.
We are looking forward to developing our partnership with Honda which operates on exactly the same principles.
Carlo Fiorani – racing operations manager, Honda Motor EuropeI am very proud and happy to make this announcement, especially with this fast and winning rider line-up.
I would like to welcome Leon back to Honda’s official World Superbike team.
We are delighted to have another Haslam representing Honda once more and I am sure that, with these two riders, we can continue to achieve results that can fulfil their individual potential and that of the CBR1000RR Fireblade.
At the same time, we are really happy that Jonathan can continue his World Superbike adventure with us.
Together with the Ten Kate guys, we are really looking forward to continuing his development as a rider, which began with us and the team many years ago.
I’m sure that the great experience of both riders will allow them both to fight again for the World Superbike title.
Of course, we are also very happy to welcome Lorenzo Zanetti back to Honda in our World Supersport programme, and Michael’s promotion to this series is proof that the Ten Kate Honda rider development programme really works.
We are confident that Lorenzo’s and Michael’s talent and experience will allow them to compete strongly for the title that Honda has won with Ten Kate so many times in recent years.
Across this bigger team, we are of course delighted to welcome Pata as Honda’s title partner.
It is clear that both companies share a passion for motorsport and a real dedication to quality.
We are all looking forward to combining that passion and commitment to create some great results in 2013.
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