Max Neukirchner officially posing for some publicity shots with his new team Hannspree Ten Kate Honda. Neukirchner would later begin the first day of testing the Honda CBR 1000RR Fireblade at Portimao alongside new team mate Jonathan Rea.

This was the German rider’s first time back on track after his crash during the Imola tests back in July.

Continue reading: Max Neukirchner debuts with Ten Kate Honda

Ryuichi Kiyonari has withdrawn from the final round of the World Superbike Championship at Portimao. Kiyonari was 11th in the standings with 141 points before his pull out.

The Ten Kate Honda rider broke his right collarbone for the second time this year, the last time being at in Magny-Cours, and after taking part in free practice and Q1 on Friday and decided to pull out due to the pain, discomfort and for safety reasons.

“You can imagine that I am very disappointed to miss out on this final race of the season. I am especially sorry for my team, who have worked so hard this season. I would also like to apologise to Honda and the sponsors of the team. I wanted to race but, after I spoke with doctors and the team, we decided that it was not possible. It’s a shame to end the season this way but now I want to get my shoulder fixed so that I am fit again for next year.”

Kiyonari, despite taking two 3rd place podiums this year at Monza has not been re-confirmed by Ten Kate Honda, who slimmed down their rider line-up from three to two and prefering to keeo Jonathan Rea and sign up Max Neukirchner for their 2010 season. Kiyonari may return to the British Superbike Championship or back to racing in his home country, even if rumors have him in Stiggy Racing, if Stigfelt can find some financial backing.

Source | tenkateracing

Continue reading: WSBK Portimao - Kiyonari withdraws from final round

Ten Kate Honda has officially confirmed that Max Neukirchner, former Alstare Suzuki rider will be joining their team alongside Jonathan Rea.

Max Neukirchner was axed/dumped/let go two weeks ago by Alstare Suzuki due to lingering doubts on his health, but according to the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda press release the German rider was given a clean bill of health by specialists, including a member of the FIM’s Medical Commission, stating that this season’s injuries (Monza and Imola test) represent no barrier to his immediate return to racing.

Neukirchner is expected to take part in the post season test at Portimao October 27-28 on the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.

The Hannspree Ten Kate team who has decided to down sized their 2010 World Superbike rider line-up from three to two, leaves both Carlos Checa and Ryuichi Kiyonari without rides for next season.

Continue reading: WSBK – Ten Kate Honda confirms Max Neukirchner

The rumors regarding Max Neukirchner has left Alstare Suzuki are true and that he is probably heading to Ten Kate Honda is becoming even more probable and according to Motosprint he’ll be with Ten Kate for the next 2 years with an option on the third.

Alstare Suzuki Team owner Francis Batta talking to Italian website Gpone has explains why he let the German rider go.

“I had an option on Max valid until the 30th of September, but I felt that he gave me the run around. I asked Max to come to the Imola race, but he arrived with an incomplete medical record. We had to insist that he undergo a complete check-up with the Clinica Mobile and then we found out why … he never gave us any information on the surgeries that he’d undergone and we found that he had a very serious and delicate operation. Dr. Corbascio and the other doctors told us that he wouldn’t be able to ride for 4 to 6 months and when he returns no one can be sure if he’ll have the same mobility.”

Continue reading: WSBK – Francis Batta Confirms:“ We let Neukirchner go and Sylvain Guintoli will be our second rider”

After Alstare Suzuki said that they were surprised that Max Neukirchner would be able and be allowed to participate in the Portimao tests on October 26, other rumors have started circulating regarding the rider’s true status in the team.

During this year’s WSBK silly season, Neukirchner was linked to switch to the new BMW team who wanted the Suzuki rider and was seriously thinking of buying out Neukirckner contract, despite the fact that he was already contracted with the Belgium team for 2010.

However several websites are now reporting that Alstare Suzuki team owner Francis Batta has terminated Neukirchner’s contract for 2010 due to ongoing injuries that have kept the rider out of most of this season and lingering doubts surrounding his health, and that the German rider is heading to the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team to replace Carlos Checa and Ryuichi Kiyonari, as the team is cutting down from three to two riders.

Ronald ten Kate talking to Motorsport Akutuell has confirmed that Neukirchner has signed a pre-contract with them and they are now ironing out the details.

The deal is expected to be announced early next week.

Source | motomatters

Continue reading: WSBK - Max Neukirchner to Ten Kate Honda?