The Honda World Superbike Team has arrived at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in central France, where this weekend the eleventh round of the 2016 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship takes place. Michael van der Mark and Nicky Hayden enter the penultimate European event of the season fourth and fifth repectively, in the championship standings.

Magny-Cours is the final WorldSBK circuit where Kentucky Kid Nicky Hayden has yet to race. Last time out in Germany, the 35-year-old American collected his fourth podium of the season courtesy of a third place finish at the Lausitzring in Race 1. Hayden will need to work against the clock with his crew in order to learn the track and find the perfect set-up for his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP – while trying to qualify directly into Saturday’s Superpole 2.

“I’m back home to WorldSBK after my one-off ride in MotoGP,” said the Hayden. “Having now raced at Aragon in both WorldSBK and MotoGP this year, I can honestly say that the difference between the two – in terms of lap-times – is not that big at all. Dipping back into MotoGP was definitely an interesting experience, but now it’s time to focus fully on my Championship. I’m looking forward to racing at Magny-Cours and to pick up where we left off at the Lausitzring in the dry, where I had really good pace and consistency. If it’s wet – which the team told me quite regularly happens here – it’s clear we have to revaluate the setup and maybe try something different. It’s going to be another learning experience – this being a new track for me – but I’ll do my best as usual.”

Teammate Michael van der Mark has fond memories of Magny-Cours: in 2012, the young Dutch rider came out on top after a fierce battle for the STK600 race win – and title – against Riccardo Russo, who tried everything he could to make sure his opponent did not get the better of him. And last year, van der Mark finished fourth in the two French races.

“After a difficult weekend I'm looking forward to Magny-Cours,” said the Dutchman. “I always like to ride here and I have had some good results in the past, including a double fourth place last year as a rookie in World Superbike. Hopefully we can get back on the podium this weekend, and I feel this could be a good place to do it. Of course, the most important thing is to make sure we can keep fourth place in the championship, though. There are only three rounds left and six individual races, so each result will be crucial for our final position in the standings. I will try as hard as I can, and I'm sure the Fireblade will work really well on this track.”

The Honda World Superbike Team will be back on track on Friday the 30^th of September in hopes of adding more important points to their solid 2016 Championship campaigns.