Honda is ready to tackle the 2016 edition of the World Superbike and Supersport championships, which are set to start tomorrow (Friday 25 February) as the opening round at Phillip Island in Australia gets underway.

This will be the first of 14 rounds across the globe, spread from February to October, which will see Honda’s standard bearers fighting for top honours aboard their production-based race bikes sporting the company’s famous white, red and blue livery.

American Nicky Hayden and Michael van der Mark from the Netherlands will race the 2016 version of the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP in the Superbike category. The WorldSBK specification of Honda’s iconic superbike has received several upgrades through the winter, ranging from new engine characteristics to revised suspension and electronics.

Two former world champions with unquestioned talent and speed, Nicky and Michael will be joined by PJ Jacobsen, who last year claimed the runner-up spot in the World Supersport championship. The 22-year-old American will return aboard the Honda CBR600RR, with the goal of becoming the rider to claim the tenth world title in the middleweight class with Honda and Dutch-based tuning company Ten Kate Racing.

Honda and Ten Kate will partner together once again to continue what has been so far an extremely successful journey, with ten world rider titles and ten manufacturer titles over both classes claimed in the past 14 years.

Nicky Hayden 69

The next stage of my career in World Superbike is about to begin. I must say I’m very happy to be here and for this opportunity to race with Ten Kate and Honda, which allows me to continue doing what I love at the highest level. I feel I can still be competitive and I’m here to prove it. I appreciate all the support from the fans and I am really looking forward to get started. I’m sure it’s going to be a great season for all of us!

Michael van der Mark 60

I’m really happy to be racing with Ten Kate and Honda once again; it’s my fourth year with the squad so I can say it’s like a family for me and I think we can have another great season together. This my second year in WorldSBK will be very important for me and the start is just around the corner, so it’s time to go out there and fight for the best result at every race.

Patrick Jacobsen 99

I’m very excited to take on my third year in World Supersport and to do so with Honda and Ten Kate. I love the Honda CBR600RR and I feel we’re in a position to battle for top honours. This is the ideal situation for me as I know everyone already and I feel at home with the team. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little kid and I can’t wait to get out there!

Ronald ten Kate - Pata Honda team manager

The time to go racing has arrived once again and we feel very motivated entering the 2016 season. We are ready and we reckon we have the right team, riders and bikes to do well. Michael and PJ will be out there to confirm themselves at the front of the field and I’m sure Nicky will be a force to be reckoned within the WorldSBK paddock, after all the success he’s had throughout his racing career so far. New teams and riders have arrived and changes have been made to rules and schedules, but all that doesn’t affect our approach to racing and our desire to win.

Marco Chini - Honda's WorldSBK Operations Manager

Honda is once again fully behind the World Superbike effort and believes in the great importance of the series for the company. We have three supremely talented riders, an extremely professional team and some loyal and enthusiastic partners and sponsors on our side. The Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP and the CBR600RR have been further improved throughout the winter and I’m sure the riders will get the best out of them. It’s going to be an exciting year for all of us, for the fans coming to the races and the ones watching from home.