Historic World Supersport team PTR Honda have announced the man who’ll ride alongside former Moto2 contestant Jules Danilo in 2019. The British squad (currently known as CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) have decided to re-sign young Hungarian Péter Sebestyén after the good results he scored in 2018.
Almost-25-year-old Sebestyén has been part of the team since last year’s Misano Round, when Simon Buckmaster gave him the seat previously belonged to Andrew Irwin (who had moved to BSB to replace Shane Byrne at PBM Be Wiser Ducati). Sebestyén had left SSP Hungary Team little time before due to several issues within the structure of the Hungarian squad and the opportunity offered by CIA Landlord Insurance Honda allowed him to continue his growth in Supersport World Championship. The rider from Budapest needed some races to adapt to CBR600RR, as he had used to ride a Kawasaki, but the last three rounds of the season saw him scoring his first point-finishes in the championship (14th at Magny Cours and 15th at San Juan) and his very first top-10 result in WorldSSP, as he finished final round at Losail in 10th place.
Sebestyén already boasts plenty of experience on the world stage, as he formerly raced in World Superbike (with Team Tóth in 2014 and 2016), in Superstock 1000 FIM Cup (with Pedercini Racing in 2015) and also in 125cc World Championship (13 races during 2010 and 2011) and now he looks at 2019 season with good optimism: “I am very happy to return with PTR Honda and continue the work together that we started last year. I really enjoyed working together and I like the structure of the team. I think we have common goals for the future. Now that we have a chance to complete a full WSS season together we will build up a stable season and will achieve good results together. Last year the team and Simon highlighted the areas where I can improve myself and get better performance. I have been working very hard on it during the winter break. I cannot wait until Australia to ride the bike again!”
2019 Supersport World Championship will start from 22nd to 24th February at Phillip Island and there we’ll see the first chapter of the fight to succeed to 2018 Champion Sandro Cortese, who has moved to World Superbike with GRT Yamaha.