Stiggy Honda Racing run by Johan Stigefelt has shut down and has withdrawn from the Superbike and Supersport World Championships in 2010.

The decision was taken after five years of partecipation at world level due to the economic situation and pull out from their financial partners S2 Racing at the begining of October and the team’s inablity, despite often beating the larger and more ‘noble’ Ten Kate Honda, to find other financial backers that would allow them to continue competing.

The 2009 season saw the team start with Leon Haslam and Roby Rolfo in WSBK and Anthony West and Gianluca Vizziello in WSS. When Stiggy axed Roberto Rolfo, for John Hopkins, that was first sign that the team was suffering from cash problems and trying to get an influx of cash from the Monster backed American, who infortunately spent most of the season sidelined with injuries. The team continued to suffer and tried cutting expenses by first droppping Vizziello for the last three races and then pulling West from the final race in Portimao.

Full press release after the jump.

The Stiggy Racing Honda team has under it’s five years of participation been very successful, but never the less found it self put in a difficult economical situation and has been forced to withdrawal from the Superbike and Supersport World Championships in 2010

The decision has been made after an close evaluation of the teams poor economical situation which was created during this years expanded venture by participating in both Championship classes. A hugh financial project that was poorly executed by the teams investors as a result of failure to it’s financial commitments of the 2009 season.

The Stiggy Racing Honda team has since its beginning shown great potential. Starting up in 2005 in the SSP class slowly building it’s ground in the championship and year by year advancing to finally set a solid mark as a top contender in the Championship. The team managed its best result in 2008 by finishing third in the SSP championship with Australian rider Joshua Brookes.

Being a private team in a Championship like Superbike, consisting of seven factory teams means not only stiff competition on track but also means a beforehand financial weakness, making it very difficult to survive without a solid financial backup and support from it’s surroundings. Despite financial disadvantages the team has been able to achieve incredible performance in its SBK rookie year. Debuting the season with a third place podium finish, repeating another three podiums places during the season including 11 top five finishes. Giving Leon Halsam the title as best privateer rider, taking a sixth place in the Championship. The team ended its year as the fifth best ranked team in both SSP and SBK classes 2009.

A magnificent result by everyone involved with the Stiggy Racing Honda team since its beginning. An achievement to be proud of and by that finishing it’s career with heads held high.

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