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Preview Sepang 2016

VAN DER MARK CONFIDENT AHEAD OF MALAYSIAN ROUND

  |   News Racing

The Honda WorldSBK Team has arrived at the Sepang International Circuit, where this weekend the sixth round of the 2016 FIM Superbike World Championship takes place. Michael van der Mark and Nicky Hayden will attack the recently resurfaced Malaysian circuit aboard their Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP machines, with the aim of mixing it up in the battle for honours in the two races, scheduled this Saturday and Sunday at 4pm local time. After winning the World Supersport race in style in 2014, Michael van der Mark wrapped up last year’s WorldSBK weekend at Sepang with a top-5 finish less than two tenths of a second ahead of former teammate Sylvain Guintoli at the line. The 23-year-old Dutchman is eager to battle again for top positions, in order to try and increase his 2016 tally of four podiums.

Michael van der Mark: “I’m looking forward to Sepang and curious to try out the new track surface. The circuit has put together a great deal of work on resurfacing and reprofiling some of the corners. The new surface is much needed, as the old asphalt was a bit too bumpy last year. I’m confident that we will be able to return towards the front of the field, as last year the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP performed really well on this track. Compared to Imola, this is a completely different track and our base set-up should work well here. We are ready to get going and are hungry for some good results.”