My Honda deal came about when both myself and Neil Tuxworth (HM Plant Team Manager) both tried to contact each other at the same time! I was keen to get back to Honda after winning the British Supersport title for them in 2006.
Who wouldn’t want to go to Honda after all they are the Championship winning team. They have won the title twice in a row and I want to make it three in a row for them.
I’ve been spending quite a lot of time at Honda getting to know my team. I’ve been talking with my crew chief Adrian Gorst and being measured up for my race bike. The boys are working hard, they are flat out already. Honda is putting in a big effort for the title challenge.
It’s great having Leon Haslam as my team-mate; we are good friends which really helps. He has finished in third and second place in the championship over the past two years; there are a lot of young riders who are going to push him though. That said Honda has still got to be the title favourite as its riders finished first and second last year.
We haven’t tested yet but I’ve ridden the Fireblade out in Qatar and as a standard road bike and I was impressed - I can’t wait to ride the bike in full Superbike trim.
We will be testing at the end of February and should get a lot of time on the bike. I’ve been training hard for the last couple of months in preparation for my new job at Honda. I got the flu recently and it has turned into a chest infection so I’ve had to just keep going as best I can - I can’t not train!
My aim this year is to finish in the top three but my ultimate goal is to win the Championship. If I finished top three I’d be happy but it is my second year and I think I can do it. I’ve certainly got the tools and the team behind me so there is no reason why not.
I know what I need to do and that is be consistent all year, I mean look at some of the results Kiyo had during the early part of last year but he still won the title. I need to stay on the bike, pull in the results and I should be there.
I’ll catch up with you guys soon.
Cal
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