Honda announces dynamic BSB line-up for 2011
Honda (UK) has announced its line-up for the 2011 British Superbike Championship. The winning HM Plant Honda team returns, and, brings back to the UK British fans’ favourite Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne to partner the retained 2010 BSB Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari, with another new recruit in Jason O’Halloran to lead Honda’s Superstock title charge.
Byrne, known as ‘Shakey’ to his fans, returns to the UK from the World Superbike stage and brings a considerable amount of experience to the team, having raced in the British Superbike Championship since 1999. During the intervening period the 33-year-old has also raced in MotoGP and won World Superbike races, although his greatest achievements have been his two BSB titles in 2003 and 2008. The HM Plant Honda team won the 2010 BSB Championship title with Japanese ace ‘Kiyo’, adding to his back-to-back UK titles won with the team in 2006 and 2007.
Building on their long term relationship since 2004, Honda (UK) Racing and HM Plant Honda will also be continuing their successful partnership and performance for the eighth consecutive year. Both Kiyo and Shakey will be riding 2011 specification HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR Fireblades, developed from this year’s title winning machine.
Shakey said: “I’m delighted to be joining HM Plant Honda. I’ve spent many years in BSB competing against them so I know just how strong the team is – finishing first and second in 2010 is testament to that. My clear aim is to join Kiyo and Niall Mackenzie in having three British titles to my name! I’m looking forward to working with Kiyo as he obviously knows the bike like the back of his hand; he’s a cool guy and I think we will work well together. I’m also looking forward to riding a four-cylinder motorcycle again. People say I’ve only had success on twins, but I’ve never had the chance to ride a top-specification four-cylinder machine, so I’m excited at the chance to prove to people I can race and win on a four too!”
Kiyo said, “I am very happy to be staying with HM Plant Honda for 2011. The team is like my family and I am very comfortable on the Fireblade, which is an incredible bike, so for me the whole package is right. My aim is very much to try and take a fourth BSB title. I’m looking forward to working with Shakey and I think our experiences will complement each other well.”
HM Plant Honda will continue to be represented in the competitive British Superstock class on a close-to-standard Fireblade, but a new rider, Jason O’Halloran, replaces Steve Plater for the 2011 season. The 22-year-old Australian is originally from Wollongong in New South Wales, but he currently lives in Lincolnshire. Jason has a proven track record of championship success, winning the 2007 Australian Supersport Championship and he has spent the last two seasons in the UK riding in both Supersport and Superbike classes.
Jason commented, “My last two seasons since leaving racing in Australia have been a little all over the place and so joining a team like HM Plant Honda now I see as a massive opportunity and hopefully will give me the ability to show my full potential. I’ve raced in BSB and British Supersport the last few years so have good knowledge of the UK circuits now and feel comfortable here so now I just want to crack on and get on with the job. I’ve also got good experience on the Fireblade from racing with the factory Honda team in Australia back in 2008 and it’s a fantastic road and track bike. The Superstock championship will be competitive so should make for some really good racing and I’m confident that with the ‘Blade and the HM Plant team I’ll have the best package out there. My aim is definitely to win the Superstock Championship in 2011 and move up to Superbike in 2012!”
Team Manager Havier Beltran said, “We are very happy to announce this strong, two-rider line-up in the British Superbike Championship. We knew we needed a very competitive rider to replace Josh, who did a great job for us, and now we’ve got two very talented and experienced riders with five BSB titles between them. Jason is also a key up and coming talent and we know he will settle into the team very quickly. With all three riders, a championship-winning team and the superb CBR1000RR Fireblade being developed still further, we expect to be a real force to be reckoned with in the 2011 championships.”
For further information about Honda, the HM Plant Honda team and its riders visit honda.co.uk or honda-racing.co.uk.