The Honda WorldSBK Team is currently in Qatar, in the Middle East, where this weekend the thirteenth and final round of the 2016 FIM Superbike World Championship takes place. Nicky Hayden and Michael van der Mark will attack the fast-flowing 5.38 km Losail International Circuit on board their Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP machines and share the garage one last time.
The Losail International Circuit made its WorldSBK debut back in 2005 and, after disappearing from the calendar in 2009, the Qatari race track made its return in 2014, when the first World Superbike night race was held under the impressive floodlight system that had already been used by MotoGP from 2008.
Nicky Hayden’s current best result at Losail is a second place finish scored in 2006 when racing in factory Honda MotoGP colours, the same ones he rode with last weekend at Phillip Island as a substitute rider for his injured former team mate Dani Pedrosa.
Michael van der Mark, who today celebrates his 24th birthday, will be contesting his last round as a factory Honda rider this weekend. The young Dutchman was fourth and fifth in the two Qatari races last year after mixing up front for honours, while in 2014 he wrapped up his World Supersport title-winning campaign with a race win.
Nicky Hayden 69
I’m ready to switch back to World Superbike mode, tyres and everything else, and the truth is I’m really happy to be back here in Qatar. I like the racing at night under the floodlights, I think it’s fun. In the past I obviously went to Losail at the start of the season, while here it’s the last round. I am looking forward to getting on track, and to see how quickly it cleans up and get ready for the races. I’m very motivated: the team and Honda have given me a great opportunity to race and do well, as well as letting me do the MotoGP races when I was needed there and had a weekend off. I really hope to repay them with two really good races.
Michael van der Mark 60
I cannot believe that it’s already the end of the season! Of course, being under floodlights this is a very special race and I can’t wait to be racing again here at the Losail International Circuit. This will be my last race with the Honda WorldSBK Team and I really want this experience to end in the best way possible. We’re still fourth in the championship standings so the goal is to make this our final position for the year. In 2015 we had two good races and I hope this time out we can even do better, so we will be pushing hard!
Pieter Breddels
Technical Manager
We’re looking forward to the last race of the season. Last year, Michael did well here in Qatar and was in the fight for the podium, which proves that he really likes the fast-flowing character of the circuit. This is going to be his last round with us, so a podium finish would be the best way to end the season. Nicky is again back to WorldSBK after racing in MotoGP, so we’ll see how much time it’ll take him to adjust back. Looking at his performance both in Jerez a fortnight ago and Phillip Island last weekend, he is undoubtedly in great form. Our goal is to maintain fourth and fifth places in the championship, which would be a good result ahead of a hopefully even better one next year.
