Since his debut STK600 season back in 2011 with the Ten Kate Junior Team, Michael van der Mark has been no stranger to winning. The young Dutchman stepped atop the podium four times, more than any of his rivals, despite finishing the season in 3rd place. The following year, the son of former Grand Prix racer Henk van der Mark came out on top after a ferocious battle for the ultimate prize in the 2012 Superstock 600 class finale at Magny-Cours to clinch his first international title.

The next step in Van der Mark’s career was to move up to the Pata Honda World Supersport Team, the multiple WSS title-winning squad based in Nieuwleusen, Holland. After a rookie season in 2013 with three podiums but no wins, this year the 21 year old from Gouda made it to the top of the podium in his home round at Assen last April and since then he has been virtually unstoppable, with another 3 wins and 2 second places to add to his tally.

The dream season for Michael also saw another summer success as the Dutchman won the Suzuka 8 Hour victory for the second year in a row with MuSashi RT Harc-Pro Honda teammates Leon Haslam and Takumi Takahashi.

With the Spanish Round at Circuito de Jerez kick starting the World Supersport action after the long summer break, ‘Magic Michael’ had a comfortable 53-point lead over his nearest rival. In today’s 19 lapper the new Dutch motorcycling hero crossed the finish line again in first place to clinch the World Championship with two races still to go.