The leading Honda effort in the World Superbike Championship this year was once again the Hannspree Ten Kate team. But for a squad that won the Riders' title in 2007, the 2009 season was tough on several fronts, despite securing two race wins and an eventual blizzard of podiums.

A major technical change mid-season, from historic partners WP to Öhlins, meant almost starting again after some good and bad results in the early season. Progress came almost instantly, with rookie WSB rider Jonathan Rea stepping up to lead the charge, winning two races and taking six of his own eight podiums after the big technical change.

For Team Manager Ronald Ten Kate, his former WSS rider Rea exceeded expectations, particularly in the later part of the year.

"2009 was described for him as a learning year in WSB. We were hoping for a couple of podiums and maybe a win and we got more than that. So we are more than happy with his results this season, especially in the second half of the season when the bike was truly competitive again."

This season was certainly not plain sailing for even such an experienced team as Ten Kate. So was 2009 a learning, or even a watershed, year for the team?

"The story of the year of course was the change of suspension in the middle. That decision had to be made, and looking back maybe we should have made it last winter. But we did not have signs from winter testing that we were far off; then we were running up front. When the season started we came to see that we were missing. When we made the change the second half of the season was about finding data and settings for 2010. In the meantime we also got wins again and lots of podiums."

Including their two WSS riders, Ten Kate had five riders, all with different requests to deal with in 2009. A lot to take on, logistically at least?

"It was a big operation but it was similar in 2008, so all in all I don't think that having the three Superbike riders was the cause of the technical crisis we had, but for sure it didn't help in making the choice to swap. I don't think it was the cause."

What do you think of your new signing Max Neukirchner now you have had a chance to see him ride in the recent Portimao test?

"I think we have the youngest pairing ever in WSB, with a 22 and 26 year old on the bikes. With both already having wins under the belt as well. With Max, we want to, step by step, bring him back to his true form again. In Portimao during the tests we did not push him at all for the lap time, but he was up there among the other guys who had already been up there on the bike all season. So that shows what a good choice he was for us next season. With a good winter of testing I believe he will be a front runner."

What about testing plans for the team?

"We have a Valencia test, confirmed on 9 and 10 December. Portimao end of January is also confirmed, but we are also looking at doing something in the beginning of January, but not confirmed yet."