Honda Team HRC haven?t had it all their own way in the World Superbike Championship for quite a while now. Plenty of riders have tried – but none have managed – to win the championship on a Fireblade since ivory tickler James Toseland won in 2007. Honda are, unsurprisingly, desperate to change that and will be pulling out all the stops in 2022, the 30th anniversary year of the Fireblade.

Manager for Honda Team HRC, Leon Camier (ex BSB champ) has welcomed two new riders to his team, fresh from the MotoGP paddock; twenty-two-year-old Iker Lecuona and twenty-four-year-old Xavi Vierge, Lecuona after two years in MotoGP and Vierge seven years in Moto2.

The fresh faced ex-GP riders might be two of the youngest in the championship, but neither are short of experience. It will, however, be their first season on a Superbike, so there?ll be an absolute ton of stuff to learn.
Pre-season testing has already begun, and there?s more planned for tomorrow (17th Feb) at Portimão, before the first round of the championship kicks off on the 8th ? 10th April. Before they got to Portimão though, we got the chance to catch up with Leon, Xavi and Iker, to have a chat about where they are with their preparations and what they are expecting the 2022 WSBK season to look like.

And this is what they said?

Honda Team HRC Manager Leon Camier

44T: It?s been a while since Honda have been consistently at the front of the WSBK championship, can your new riders h...