WSBK 2017: Bradl on the new Honda Fireblade
The 2011 Moto2 champion, Stefan Bradl, will line up in the 2017 and 2018 World Superbike! He will join the Honda Ten Kate team as Nicky Hayden’s teammate on the next Fireblade, in place of Michael van den Mark approached at Yamaha…
Arrived in Grand Prix in 2005 in category 125 with KTM, Stefan Bradl rose to glory six years later in Moto2 within the Viessman Kiefer Racing team. From a Suter chassis (then champion constructor) to the Kalex, the German champion largely dominated the start of the 2011 season and secured his first – and only to date – world title against a certain Marc Marquez…
With 6 podiums including 2 victories in 125, 12 podiums including 5 victories in Moto2 (and 7 pole positions!), The German champion logically reached the premier category the following year. From his three years at Honda LCR, we will remember above all his pole position and his podium at Laguna Seca in 2013.
Unfortunately for him, his disappointing half-season (!) At Yamaha Forward and his season (and a half …) in developing the Aprilia RS-GP did not allow him to shine: just a handful of Top 10 won at the favor of tricky weather conditions.
Not wishing to make appearances in MotoGP, Bradl therefore preferred to head to the World Superbike, in the hope of riding again for the win … as his compatriot Max Neukirchner did in 2008 on Suzuki, or as would have enjoyed doing it this year Marcus Reiterberger on BMW.
For his part, "Stefan has chosen to ride with Honda in World Superbike and we will not fail to reward his confidence in us in the best possible way", rejoices Ronald Ten Kate, manager of the eponymous team..
"In the meetings we have had so far, he has given us a clear vision on his goals and how to get there. It is clear that we share the same approach to competition," assures the big Dutch boss who had to part with his foal…
Bradl, Van den Mark, Guintoli … the musical saddles !
It is indeed Michael van den Mark, who will cede his handlebars to the Moto2 champion next year. According to rumors, the Supersport world champion – on a CBR600RR prepared by Ten Kate – could take the place of Guintoli at Yamaha, our "Guinters" finding next year the Aprilia which had led him to the world coronation in 2014…
The 2006 MotoGP world champion, Nicky Hayden, will keep his place as foreseen in the Honda plan: one year to take his bearings in World Superbike on the old Fireblade and a second to win … on the all new !
“Developing the new Fireblade, making it competitive and winning it is a neat project,” Bradl does not hide on his official website. "Obviously it will be good to work with Nicky: I think it’s a fantastic combination because we understand each other really well".
"I’m really happy to join the Honda WorldSBK team for the 2017 season," said the German rider. "This is a great opportunity for me and I’m sure we can do some good things together. Of course it will be a whole new experience for me but I will try to adapt as quickly as possible in order to get some good ones. results".
For this, "like all riders coming from MotoGP, he will have to get used to the different character of a production bike as well as the tires in addition to having to learn the routes of the calendar", observes Miste Ten Kate . "But taking into account that he is still very young, I am sure he will learn quickly!"
Honda finally, "would like to thank his outgoing rider, Michael van der Mark, after his four years with the team with which he won the 2014 WorldSSP title. Since his stint in WorldSBK, the Dutchman has 8 podiums and a pole position ", recalls his future-ex-team.
"For the rest of the season, Van der Mark will try to get on the podium again and look for his first WorldSBK victory", who knows, maybe on Stefan Bradl’s home, since the next WSBK event is scheduled in Germany, at the Lausitzring … Stay connected !
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