Honda have announced the riders they’ll support in 2019 All Japan Superbike Championship, whose first round will take place on 6-7th April at Twin Ring Motegi. For what concerns JSB1000, Honda will be represented by seven riders and the Japanese manufacturer will have a strong spearhead in Takumi Takahashi, 2017 Champion with HARC-PRO Honda. Last year the 29-year-old from Saitama rode the Honda CBR 1000RRW lined up by returning Team HRC and he finished second behind Katsuyuki Nakasuga. The goal set by Team HRC for 2019 is to be JSB1000 Champions again (and win Suzuka 8 Hours…) and Takahashi will try to achieve that goal with unusual race number #13.
While Takumi Takahashi will ride the only factory CBR 1000RRW on the field, the remaining seven riders will use CBR 1000RR Fireblade SP2 machines. Despite their participation in Superbike World Championship together with Althea Racing, Moriwaki will continue contesting All Japan with former MotoGP rider Yuki Takahashi, who’s been representing the manufacturer based in Suzuka for five years.
Ryo Mizuno will represent HARC-PRO Honda, while Teluru MotoUp (ex-Kohara) Team have signed youngster Taiga Hada to ride alongside twice JSB1000 Champion Kosuke Akiyoshi. Despite an injury affecting 2018 season, former Supermotard star Sodo Hamahara has been re-signed by Sakurai Honda, while 43-year-old Taro Sekiguchi (formerly seen in 250cc World Championship) will step up to Superbike class with his Team AJR.
HONDA-SUPPORTED RIDERS FOR 2019 ALL JAPAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Takumi Takahashi – Team HRC – Honda CBR 1000RRW
Yuki Takahashi – KYB Moriwaki Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR SP2
Ryo Mizuno – MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR SP2
Kosuke Akiyoshi – Teluru MotoUP Racing Team – Honda CBR 1000RR SP2
Taiga Hada – Teluru MotoUP Racing Team – Honda CBR 1000RR SP2
Sodo Hamahara – Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR SP2
Taro Sekiguchi – Team ATJ – Honda CBR 1000RR SP2
Translated by Alessandro Palma