Althea MIE Honda adds Delbianco in separate entry

Alessandro Delbianco will make his World Superbike debut in 2019 with an Althea MIE Honda entry separate to the factory squad revealed earlier this month.

Honda confirmed an all-new factory squad run by Moriwaki and Althea, splitting from the Ten Kate Racing-run team, with Leon Camier joined by Ryuichi Kiyonari for 2019.

Italian team Althea will enter a third bike under its own banner with Delbianco, who finished seventh in the European Superstock 100 series this season, with the Rimini-born rider naturally relishing the opportunity.

“Being able to take part in the 2019 World Superbike Championship and to challenge with the greatest exponents of this category is my childhood dream come true,” Delbianco said. “Of course it doesn’t mean for me to reach a finish line but rather a starting point.

“I'm really happy to continue my journey with Genesio and the Althea Racing Team. I also wish to thank Moriwaki who will make available to me the fantastic Honda CBR1000RR SP2 bikes with which I will fight at my best. I can’t wait to start.”

General manager Genesio Bevilacqua is delighted to secure a third Honda CBR1000RR SP2 for the 2019 grid and is confident the young Italian rider has “ability to surprise us all”.

“I am enormously happy to have reached another goal in my personal and team journey in the exciting Superbike world,” Bevilacqua said. “Delbianco embodies the essence of my ambition and that of the team to bring young talented Italian riders to the World Superbike Championship finish line.

“Alessandro is young and will have to learn a lot but for sure he is full of passion and ability to surprise us all.

“I also thank Midori Moriwaki for the collaboration in this ambitious project as well as all the team’s technicians and engineers who are working hard to give us performing bikes that will allow Alessandro to express himself at his best.”