Ruben Xaus has secured a 2011
World Superbike ride, and a coveted one at that, with the 32-year-old joining the Ten Kate Honda squad. Xaus will campaign 2011 alongside Jonathan Rea aboard the CBR1000RR.
Ruben Xaus signs on the dotted line for the Ten Kate squad.
Xaus has campaigned on the world stage with Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW and most notably with Ducati. His 2011 Ten Kate ride will be his first tenure with
Honda. The past two seasons Xaus piloted the new BMW S1000RR to disappointing results – 17th overall in 2009 and 15th in 2010. The Spaniard’s tenure aboard the inaugural Beemer Superbike entry was defined by numerous crashes and DNFs. However, Xaus does boast 11 career SBK victories, including an impressive 2007 victory aboard a privateer Ducati.
Xaus fills seat vacated by Max Neukirchner, as the German rider languished to 18th in the championship for the Ten Kate team. Meanwhile teammate Jonathan Rea managed fourth in the 2010 overall points, scoring four wins and 12 podiums.
The Dutch-based Ten Kate team is one of the powerhouses of the World Superbike paddock, fielding numerous world champions, most recently last year’s World Supersport champion Keenan Sofuoglu. To go with seven World Supersport titles, the team bagged a World Supebike title with James Toseland in 2007. Xaus joins a team with high expectations.
Xaus did not flourish with the BMW S1000RR, his tenure with the German marque filled with crashes.
“It’s difficult for me describe how happy I am that I will ride with the Ten Kate Honda team next season. For many years I have admired the passion and dedication that they bring to World Superbikes and I believe that they capture the essence of the championship. They run a successful Honda dealership in Holland and with the support of Honda Europe they manage a team that has some of the most skilled tuners and engineers. They have shown with all their world titles that they have the right blend of skill and desire. I know that I am capable of more SBK wins and I will bring all my racing experience, gained on many different types of machine, to help achieve more success with the Ten Kate Honda team. I would like to thank Gerrit, Ronald and all the guys Honda for the faith that they have shown in me and in my potential. I still have a lot of things I want to do in World Superbikes and I believe this team will allow me to achieve what we all aim for. It will begin with my first test with my new team at the end of this month and I cannot wait to start work.”
Ronald ten Kate:
“We are delighted that Ruben Xaus will partner Jonathan Rea in the Ten Kate Honda team for 2011. Ruben will bring to the team a very high level of experience in World Superbikes – experience that he has translated into many podiums and 11 race victories. We have raced against him for many years now, and we have seen how competitive he can be. We believe that we can harness Ruben’s experience and unleash the potential that he so clearly has for many more good performances. We are looking forward to working with him and to welcoming him to the Ten Kate family which, once you are in, you can never really leave! We have a busy winter schedule ahead of us during which we will develop further the Honda CBR1000RR with Jonathan and Ruben so that we are ready to go in Australia next year. We aim to show then that we have the potent machinery, a powerful commitment to success and the right rider combination that will achieve the results which we all desire so strongly.”
