Klaffi Honda will be the first World Superbike team taking part in pure
road race
events for the first time since Carl Fogarty and the Moto Cinelli team
took part in the 1993 North West 200.
Twenty five year old Irishman Martin Finnegan has agreed terms with
Klaus Klaffenböck's Klaffi Honda World Superbike team for the 2006 road
race season. The North West 200, the Tourist Trophy Isle of Man and the
Ulster Grand Prix are on the schedule. Martin will take part in the
Superbike, Supersport and Superstock races.
He is amongst the best riders at International level. This year he
lapped the TT Mountain Circuit at 127.014mph to become the second
fastest rider still competing at the
event behind John McGuinness.
Martin will make his debut for his new team at the upcoming Macau
Motorcycle Grand Prix on the 19th of November, where he will ride a
Klaffi Honda Fireblade machine. Callum Ramsey and Cameron Donald will
join Martin in the team at Macau. In January 2006 Martin will also join
up with the rest of the Klaffi Honda squad for a full testing schedule.
Martin Finnegan: "I can't hide how pleased I am to be joining Klaus's
team. We spoke briefly at the TT this year, but since then I had offers
from five team's altogether. But when Klaus came back to me with a firm
offer, there was no doubt in my mind as to where I would be riding.
Klaffi Honda has enjoyed a lot of success in a short space of time, and
their machinery has proved to be very fast and very reliable, and we
have terrific support from HRC UK. I think riding for Klaffi Honda gives
me the best possible chance of achieving this ambition. This is the deal
of my life and I can't quite believe that it has happened!"
Team Manager Klaus Klaffenböck: "I really enjoy racing at the TT and I
like the atmosphere of the real road race scene over there in the UK. I
have thought about running a team at
The TT and some other events for some time, and started talking to a few
riders. Martin was always top of my list however and I am delighted to
be welcoming him into our team today. I am sure this is going to be a
successful partnership and together we will win a lot of races. We are
not going into this half heartedly, and Martin will get our full support
and have access to our full team infrastructure. I want to win the TT
myself in the Sidecar class, and I now want to win the Superbike races
as well with our team and our new rider Martin Finnegan."
