Motorcycles

World Superbike News

Xaus fastest at Portimao SBK test

New Ten Kate Honda recruit, Ruben Xaus, topped the timesheets after two days of wet World Superbike testing at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal, which ended today.

The 32-year-old Spanish rider completed a hefty workload of 114 laps, despite having no dry track time at all, and left the Portuguese circuit as the fastest of a group of top World Superbike championship riders.

His Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Jonathan Rea, was back on his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade for the first time since fracturing his wrist and dislocating his collarbone in a crash at Imola in September.

Rea had an operation on his wrist shortly after the season ended in early October but was quickly back up to speed in Portimao, consequently opting to complete only a handful of laps and sit out day two entirely.

The 23-year-old from Northern Ireland, who finished fourth in the 2010 World Superbike championship, instead helped Xaus to adjust to his new Honda machinery by watching him out on track and offering advice.

Jonathan Rea

During the whole two-day test we really didn’t have any dry conditions, although there was maybe one 20 minute window when we might have gone out with a slick/intermediate combination. But I got back up to pace pretty much straight away on day one and, although we had a heap of things we wanted to test, you really need to be on record pace to test them properly. It’s clear that the operation didn’t take any speed out of me and my trainer, Darren Roberts, has worked really hard to keep me in pretty good condition ever since. It was probably quite useful for me physically that the conditions weren’t so good, but it’s still frustrating and I didn’t want to do too many laps like that and get into a slow rhythm. Now I’m going to visit the Motorcycle Live show in Birmingham at the weekend and then spend some time in Australia before our next test at Aragon in Spain.

Ruben Xaus

In Spanish, we have some different words for ‘happy’. There is ‘contento’, and then there is ‘feliz’, which is what I am. Yes, I am really, really, happy! From the very first moment at this test, the team, my new team-mate and the bike are all incredible. It’s like we got an ‘A’ in an exam, and now we are looking for an A+. I really didn’t adjust anything on the bike, not the bars or anything, but I was able to improve each time I went out, even in the different conditions. Everything we changed with the settings allowed me to go faster, so it all worked really well. I would, of course, have like some dry time on the bike – maybe even just 10 or 15 laps – but it was the same for everybody, and they all did many laps, too. Except for Jonathan, of course, who helped me a lot today because he knows the bike so very well and has spent lots of time in the team. I was able to go much faster than I have been in the wet here before and the first impression of everything is really very good. I will train hard over the next few weeks to prepare for the next test and I cannot wait to ride the bike again and to move this exciting project forward.

Ronald ten Kate – team manager

It has been very wet for the two days of this test, but it was Jonathan’s first time back on the bike since his injury, the subsequent operation and then his recovery. He managed to get back up to speed within four or five laps, which really fills us all with confidence. But, of course, the conditions didn’t allow us to test very much with him and we know that he is already fast in those conditions. Ruben did 114 laps over two days and he ended up as the fastest rider at the test. He spent valuable time getting to know his crew and how he wants things to be on the bike. Everything he asked for we were able to resolve and afterwards he went faster, so it was a very encouraging start for sure.

Ruben Xaus joins Jonathan Rea at Ten Kate Honda

The Ten Kate Honda team has today confirmed that Ruben Xaus is to join Jonathan Rea as part of its assault on the 2011 World Superbike Championship.

Xaus is one of the most experienced riders in the World Superbike paddock and the opening round of the 2011 season, scheduled for Phillip Island in Australia, will mark the Spaniard’s 200th race start in the production-based series.

The 32-year-old Xaus has 11 World Superbike race wins to his name, the most recent on a privateer Ducati in 2008. He has visited the podium no fewer than 35 times in his 199 starts and was championship runner-up in 2003. He brings with him valuable experience to the Ten Kate Honda team and a desire to prove that he still has what it takes to be a race winner.

Now living in Andorra, Xaus is originally from Barcelona in Spain. A qualified mechanic, he speaks five languages and is married to Mariona, with whom he has two daughters.

Ruben Xaus, Ten Kate Honda

“It’s difficult for me describe how happy I am that I will ride with the Ten Kate Honda team next season. For many years I have admired the passion and dedication that they bring to World Superbikes and I believe that they capture the essence of the championship. They run a successful Honda dealership in Holland and with the support of Honda Motor Europe they manage a team that has some of the most skilled tuners and engineers. They have shown with all their world titles that they have the right blend of skill and desire. I know that I am capable of more SBK wins and I will bring all my racing experience, gained on many different types of machine, to help achieve more success with the Ten Kate Honda team. I would like to thank Gerrit, Ronald and all the guys at Honda for the faith that they have shown in me and in my potential. I still have a lot of things I want to do in World Superbikes and I believe this team will allow me to achieve what we all aim for. It will begin with my first test with my new team at the end of this month and I cannot wait to start work.”

Ronald Ten Kate, Team Manager

“We are delighted that Ruben Xaus will partner Jonathan Rea in the Ten Kate Honda team for 2011. Ruben will bring to the team a very high level of experience in World Superbikes – experience that he has translated into many podiums and 11 race victories. We have raced against him for many years now, and we have seen how competitive he can be. We believe that we can harness Ruben’s experience and unleash the potential that he so clearly has for many more good performances. We are looking forward to working with him and to welcoming him to the Ten Kate family which, once you are in, you can never really leave! We have a busy winter schedule ahead of us during which we will develop further the Honda CBR1000RR with Jonathan and Ruben so that we are ready to go in Australia next year. We aim to show then that we have the potent machinery, a powerful commitment to success and the right rider combination that will achieve the results which we all desire so strongly.”