MIE Racing reveals 2020 WorldSBK Honda, signs Jordi Torres
MIE Racing pulls the wraps off its 2020 WorldSBK Honda entry and reveals Jordi Torres will partner Takumi Takahashi this season
Jordi Torres will compete in the 2020 WorldSBK Championship after securing the final seat on the grid with the MIE Racing Honda team.
The Spaniard, a WorldSBK race winner and four-time podium winner, was originally slated to continue with the Pedercini Kawasaki team this season but was released from his contract in January after the Italian outfit lost its primary sponsor.
With few options remaining, Torres penned a deal to ride a new Honda CBR1000RR-R with the Laglisse team in the Spanish Superbike Championship but has now secured the final available ride on the WorldSBK calendar with MIE Racing Althea.
MIE Racing – formerly known as Moriwaki Althea – will be the official satellite effort to Team HRC, though Torres won’t make his debut until round three in Spain. Takumi Takahashi will compete in all rounds, including next week’s opener in Australia.
“I’m thrilled to have the chance to race in the WorldSBK championship with Honda and the MIE Racing Althea Honda Team. I’m prepared to work closely with the team, bringing my own experience but also learning from them.
“I’m sure that by combining our efforts, we will be able to continuously improve our performance and our results over the season. I am looking forward to riding the new Honda CBR1000RR-R and will do my best for the team, Honda and all our fans.”
The team, headed up by the experienced Midori Moriwaki, will compete in a stealthy black livery compared with the more traditional Honda colours of Team HRC.
Two days of official pre-season testing at Phillip Island will kick things off for WorldSBK this week before the event begins on February 28.
