VAN DER MARK READY FOR MAGNY-COURS
The Honda WorldSBK Team has arrived at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in central France, where this weekend the eleventh round of the 2016 FIM Superbike World Championship takes place. Michael van der Mark enter the third-last event of the season fourth in the championship standings. The track, located 260km south of France’s capital city Paris, made its WorldSBK debut back in 1991 only to make its return twelve years later. Since 2003, the track has been a permanent fixture on the championship calendar.
Michael van der Mark has fond memories of Magny-Cours: in 2012, the young Dutch rider came out on top after a fierce battle for the STK600 race win – and title – against Riccardo Russo, who tried everything he could to make sure his opponent did not get the better of him. And last year, van der Mark racked up a brace of fourth places in the two French races.
Michael van der Mark: “After a difficult weekend I’m looking forward to Magny-Cours. I always like to ride here and I have had some good results in the past, including a double fourth place last year as a rookie in World Superbike. Hopefully we can get back on the podium this weekend, and I feel this could be a good place to do it. Of course, the most important thing is to make sure we can keep fourth place in the championship, though. There are only three rounds left and six individual races, so each result will be crucial for our final position in the standings. I will try as hard as I can, and I’m sure the Fireblade will work really well on this track.”