The new Pata Honda team was finally unveiled at Verona in Italy this afternoon, as it prepares for its dual assault on the World Superbike and World Supersport championships.
The team run by Ronald ten Kate is Dutch, the motorcycle is Japanese, but their sponsors, Pata, Tonello Energie and Barracuda are 100% ItalianSporting all-new livery on their Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade machinery, World Superbike riders Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam, both from the UK, took to the stage in front of a big crowd at Motor Bike Expo, Verona’s annual motorcycle exhibition and joined by two World Supersport debutants, Dutch flyer Michael van der Mark and Lorenzo Zanetti from Italy, who will compete on Honda’s multiple championship winning CBR600RR.
“This is a really exciting moment,” said Rea after the unveiling of the team and its new racing livery.
“I think the bikes and the leathers look great and we know that there are some exciting developments for the CBR for this season, so I can’t wait for it to start.
” Haslam added: “It’s great for me to be back with Honda for 2013 and I’m really happy with the whole look of the Pata Honda team.
We’ve got a two day test in Jerez next week before all the kit has to be packed up for Australia.
The first round can’t come soon enough for me!”