Honda confirms season 2008 ASBK riders
Honda have now confirmed their rider line up for the season 2008 assault on the Australian Superbike and Supersport Championships
Honda have now confirmed their rider line up for next season’s assault on the Australian Superbike and Supersport Championships.
Heading up the Team in the Superbike class aboard the all-new CBR1000RR will be 20-year-old Jason O’Halloran and 27-year-old Glenn Allerton, both of whom are no strangers to the Honda camp.
O’Halloran previously rode for the factory Honda Team in 2004 and 2005 before spending the last two seasons with another manufacturer where he continued to impress in the Supersport class. After finishing third overall in the ’06 600cc Championships, O’Halloran reaped the rewards of his hard work as a junior, and showed that he now has the maturity and skill needed to win at the elite level. Jason won three of eight Supersport rounds this year, and finished all of the remainder on the podium, bar one. After a childhood spent winning Junior dirt titles (51 to be exact), this year’s Championship win was O’Halloran’s first major road racing score, and a sign that he is ready to take on the premier class. Allerton also rode for the factory Team in 2006, and was mounted again on a CBR1000RR as a privateer this season. He finished fourth overall after winning the Symmons Plains, Tasmania round outright, and stepped up to the podium two more times over the course of the series.
The two Honda veterans will also be joined by Wayne Maxwell who is a familiar face around Australian racing pits. Maxwell will compete solely in the Supersport class next year, and will focus on building on the success he experienced toward the end of this season. His final round win at Eastern Creek was a highlight for the 25-year-old Victorian who is certainly looking forward to the new challenge. Team Manager Paul Free said the Honda Team are all feeling positive about the many changes now bedded down for 2008. "I’m really pleased to have both Jason and Glenn back on board as they are extremely talented riders and great to work with," he said. "I also believe Wayne is an excellent choice for Supersport, especially after showing he can run with the top riders consistently."
"We are also looking forward to a few changes in the way we operate, including a move to new premises in Campbellfield which will occur before the end of the year. With our sponsors now being firmed up and our new CBR’s due to arrive shortly, I believe our package overall is going to be extremely competitive."
The Honda Team will compete in the 2008 Australian Superbike series which kicks off on March 15-16 at Eastern Creek, NSW. Announcements regarding sponsors for the new team will be made in the near future.
