Michael Van Der Mark To World Supers For 2015
Paul Carruthers | September 22, 2014
Newly crowned World Supersport Champion Michael van der Mark will move to the World Superbike Championship in 2015 and 2016 with the 21-year-old Dutchman signing a two-year deal with the Pata Honda team.
Van der Mark wrapped up the World Supersport at Jerez in Spain on September 7 – with two rounds to spare. Van der Mark is no stranger to the Honda CBR1000RR he will race the next two years as he been a part of the winning Honda team for the past two years in the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours.
“I’m really, really happy with this next step,” said van der Mark. “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.”
Van der Mark has two more World Supersport races to compete in this year before he will start a winter testing program on the CBR1000RR. This year’s Pata Honda team consists of Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam. Haslam is rumored to be heading to a privateer Ducati team and Rea has yet to sign a deal for next year.
“In a way, I’m a little sad that we have to let Michael go from his contract with Ten Kate Racing for 2015,” said team manager Ronald ten Kate. “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.”
Paul Carruthers | Editor
Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-30-year tenure at America’s Daily Motorcycle News Source.
