The Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team has confirmed that its rider Jonathan Rea will be aiming his Honda CBR1000RR squarely at the World Superbike championship title once again in 2011.
Rea joined the team in 2008 for the World Supersport championship and finished as runner up to his team-mate Andrew Pitt. He is currently in the second year of a three-year contract with the team and lies in third place in the 2010 World Superbike championship standings with four wins so far this year.
The 23-year-old, originally from Northern Ireland but now living on the Isle of Man, has displayed an impressive level of maturity and consistency in his first two seasons of World Superbike competition that has resulted in a total of six race victories and 18 podium finishes, with two rounds (four races) remaining in the 2010 season.
"I‰Ûªm really happy to be staying with this fantastic team for another season," Rea said.
"We‰Ûªre all pulling in the same direction and we‰Ûªre all really excited about the prospects for the Honda CBR1000RR. Even though I‰Ûªm still only 23, the team has taught me an enormous amount about world championship racing, both on the track and off it and I‰Ûªve become a regular race winner. To become a championship winner, I recognise that I need continuity and that‰Ûªs what I‰Ûªve got now. It‰Ûªs no secret that my ultimate ambition is to compete in GPs but I‰Ûªll still only be 24 next season so I‰Ûªm really happy to aim for the World Superbike title in 2011 and then hopefully take the next step forward after that within the Honda family."
Team manager Ronald ten Kate added, "It‰Ûªs good to see a rider of Jonathan‰Ûªs calibre spend his entire career to date with the Honda family. At the beginning of this agreement, it was always the intention of the rider, the team and Honda to stay together and we are very happy to see that realised now. Jonathan joined us in Supersport ranks in 2008 and his raw talent has combined with a great attitude and personality to turn him into a race winner. Next year, our only aim will be to turn that race winner into a championship winner.
Carlo Fiorani ‰ÛÒ sporting manager of Honda Europe Motorcycles concluded saying, "Of course, we are all very proud to keep Jonathan with Honda next season. It is clear that he his one of the most exciting talents in any world championship paddock right now. Together with Ten Kate Racing, we are very happy to work for another season to focus on the prestigious World Superbike championship title."
