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.
The Dutch rider’s team-mate for 2015 is also yet to be announced with long time Honda stalwart Jonathan Rea seemingly courting a Kawasaki ride in WSBK if Honda can not place the likeable Irishman into a competitive MotoGP ride. Likewise Haslam seems unlikely to stick with Honda for 2015.  Josh Brookes has made it clear that he would like to step onto the World Superbike stage and perhaps could be a possibility to ride alongside Michael van der Mark in 2015. The hot favourite for the second Ten Kate Superbike seat right now though is Sylvain Guintoli.
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
- Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7th, Dutch 125cc GP
- Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 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.”
