WorldSSP: Stapleford joins CIA Landlord Insurance Honda
British Supersport Champion steps up to WorldSSP.
Luke Stapleford has become the third rider to join the CIA Landlord Insurance Honda team for the 2016 FIM Supersport World Championship season.
Stapleford moves up to the world scene as the reigning British Supersport Champion, having won the 2015 title convincingly with a 127-point cushion.
Earlier this season, Stapleford rode his Triumph 675 R to sixth place in a WorldSSP wildcard outing at Donington Park, having qualified fourth on the grid. His previous two performances in the class came in 2011, riding a Kawasaki ZX-6R at Silverstone and Portimao.
Stapleford will make his full-time WorldSSP debut on a Honda CBR600RR alongside British compatriots Kyle Smith and Stefan Hill, who have already been confirmed at the team. The identify of the fourth and final rider on the team is yet to be announced.
Luke Stapleford:
“I am happy to be signing for CIA Landlord Insurance Honda and can’t wait to get going. I did a wildcard ride at Donington Park this year and finished sixth, but it should have been better if it wasn’t for some issues with my bike. I think I should have been fighting for the podium there. At the tracks I know – Donington and Assen – I want to be racing with the front guys. I am not going to WorldSSP to make up the numbers, but I do have a lot of tracks to learn and some look difficult, like Thailand. Friday first practice will be difficult at the new tracks but hopefully, by the time I get to the race on Sunday, I’ll be up to speed. I am targeting the top six in the championship in my first year. Tristan Palmer, who has been with me this year, will join me as my Chief Mechanic which is great. The Honda CBR600RR may be a different bike but it’s good to have people I know and trust with me.”
Simon Buckmaster, Team Manager of CIA Landlord Insurance Honda:
“We are delighted to sign Luke to the CIA Landlord Insurance Honda team for 2016. With Luke alongside Kyle Smith, I believe it is our strongest line-up since 2012. Right from the start, we expect Kyle and Luke to be racing at the sharp end: they are both quality riders with the ability to win races and mix it at the top of the World Championship. We will announce our fourth and final rider shortly. We are now focusing on developing our CBR600RR ahead of testing in the New Year. We are looking forward to the 2016 season with great excitement already.”
