Pata Honda Signs '14 World Supersport Champ van der Mark to Superbike World Championship Team for 2015-2016 Seasons

 

 

 

 

 

 

News    21.09.2014                 Two years of World Superbike for van der Mark and Honda Honda's new World Supersport champion Michael van der Mark has signed a two-year agreement to race with the Pata Honda team in the World Superbike championship in 2015 and 2016.   The 21-year-old, who secured the 2014 World Supersport series title with two rounds to spare on 7 September in Jerez in Spain, will ride the Pata Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP from next season. It was confirmed on Friday 19 September that Pata will be with Honda for further two years in the World Superbike championship.   Although he has raced on Honda’s CBR600RR for four years - winning the European Superstock 600 championship in 2012 before stepping up to World Supersport last season - van der Mark is no stranger to Honda’s 1000cc flagship sportsbike.   The Dutch rider has won the last two editions of the prestigious Suzuka 8-hours World Endurance championship race in Japan, impressing many with his outright pace on the larger machine.   Van der Mark still has two rounds remaining in this year’s World Supersport championship at Magny-Cours, France on 5 October and at Losail in Qatar on 2 November. However, the team’s testing schedule and the calendar for the 2015 World Superbike championship are yet to be announced. Michael van der Mark   Date of birth                                      26 October 1992 Place of birth                                    Gouda, Netherlands Home town                                       Rotterdam, Netherlands Race number                                    60 2015 race machine                           Pata Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP First race                                           2005 – Assen, Netherlands, Dutch Jr. Cup World Supersport debut                    2012 – Moscow, Russia (wildcard) World Supersport races                    20 First World Supersport podium         2013 – Phillip Island, Australia Total World Supersport podiums      11 First World Supersport win                2014 – Assen, the Netherlands Total World Supersport wins             5   Career Highlights   2005                4th, Dutch Junior Cup – Aprilia 2006                2nd, Dutch Junior Cup – Aprilia 2007                2nd, ONK Dutch 125cc championship – Honda 2008                ONK Dutch 125cc champion – Honda                         3rd, IDM 125cc championship – Honda                         Selected CEV Spanish championship – Honda                         26th, Dutch 125cc GP – Honda 2009                ONK Dutch 125cc champion – Honda                         Selected CEV Spanish championship – Honda                         18th, Dutch 125cc GP – Honda 2010                125cc Grands Prix – Lambretta                         7th, Dutch 125cc GP                         Debut, European Superstock 600 championship - Honda 2011                3rd, European STK 600 championship – Honda                         Wildcard – Moto2 GP, Assen 2012                European Superstock 600 champion – Honda 2013                Winner, Suzuka 8-hours – Honda                         4th, World Supersport championship – Honda 2014                Winner, Suzuka 8-hours – Honda                         World Supersport Champion – Honda   Michael van der Mark I’m really, really happy with this next step. It’s been going in two-year stages for me with the team, so this next stage in World Superbikes is fantastic and really exciting. It’s a good and safe place to be with Honda for 2015 and 2016. I’ve had a great experience with this team for the last two years and there was never really any question that I would be going anywhere else. World Superbikes in 2015 is going to be really interesting – there are new technical regulations and I think there will be a few surprises next year. Although the electronics will be a big change for me, I have shown that I can ride a superbike and now I really can’t wait to get started. Ronald ten Kate  - team manager In a way, I’m a little sad that we have to let Michael go from his contract with Ten Kate Racing for 2015. But in reality, I am absolutely happy and proud that he has been given this fantastic opportunity with Honda. There is now a clear plan and vision to grow his impressive talent in the future. We have been working with Michael now for four years – two in Superstock 600 and two in World Supersport – so this next step for him feels completely natural. He fully deserves this chance and we are all looking forward to taking these next steps together with him. Robert Watherston  - head of motorsports, Honda Europe We are absolutely delighted that Michael has found his niche with Honda. He has gelled with the CBR range from day one in European Superstock where he became champion in 2012. Now he has a world title with Honda and the CBR600RR and we’re looking forward to the next two-year cycle as we target our common goal of another world championship together.   Copyright-free images Supersport action from Jerez   Suzuka 8-hours 2014     Suzuka 8-hours 2014   Supersport action from Jerez © 2014 Pata Honda