Honda claim European Junior Cup for 2013

The sound of thumping singles will likely be replaced by the sound of

HONDA will power 2013's European Junior Cup, the series designed to identify and develop young racing talent from around the world.

Formerly run on single-cylinder KTM 690 Dukes, Honda haven't revealed the bike they'll be using but it's likely to be their new twin-cylinder 500, the CBR500.

The series runs at 8 European rounds of the World Superbike Championship. Young riders from 14-19 are eligible and the prize for the championship winner is a season in a Honda team in the UEM Superstock 600 European Championship.

Gerry Bryce, of Racedays Promotions, the German-based company that will organise and promote the European Junior Cup, said: “Racedays are very pleased to join Honda in their exciting global development programme for young riders. The European Junior Cup format has proved to be a great success and we look forward to working with Honda, Pirelli, and the World Superbike Championship to produce the next generation of top level road racers.”

Double World Superbike Champion, James Toseland started off on a similar machine and won the first CB500 Cup in the UK in 1997.