CARDENAS JOINS CIA INSURANCE HONDA FOR SEASON END

AMA SUPERBIKE front-runner Martin Cardenas will join CIA Insurance Honda for the final two rounds of the 2014 World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours in France and Losail in Qatar.

Martin, 32, from Colombia, finished sixth in the 2014 AMA Pro Superbike standings, after taking four podium finishes during the season. The 2010 and 2012 AMA Pro Sportbike Champion is looking to make his mark on the World Championship and has experience to call upon from Moto2 and 250cc GP races earlier in his career.

Martin said: “I have enjoyed a decent season in the USA but it came to a finish too early. I feel I am getting into my stride and riding well, so I want to see what I can do on the world stage.

“Getting a good bike in WSS is tough but I am looking forward to riding the CIA Insurance Honda. It’s been on the podium a couple of times this year and is clearly right up there with the best. I have realistic targets and want to see what I can achieve, this is going to be a great experience for me, I can’t wait to get racing.”

Martin will make his CIA Insurance debut at Magny Cours on 5th October before the final round at Losail on November 2nd. He replaces regular CIA Insurance Honda rider Raffaele De Rosa.

CIA Insurance Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “We are delighted to be able to give Martin a competitive bike to race in the World Supersport Championship.

“It will be difficult for him to race at the front of such a competitive Championship but he is a quality rider and we will be doing our best together to see just how fast he really is. My view is if he can challenge for the top 10 then it would be a major success and indicator of his potential ability to compete at the front over the course of a whole season.”