PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team officially launched on Phillip Island
Just ahead of the opening WorldSBK and WorldSSP rounds at Phillip Island circuit in Australia, the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team has released a special launch video that showcases the new-look CBR1000RR-R and CBR600RR machines with which it will compete during the 2024 season.
Relaunching a two-pronged attack in the production-derived series, the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team will fight in World Superbike, with Malaysian Adam Norrodin and British rider Tarran Mackenzie – both of whom move up from WorldSSP – and in World Supersport, where it will field Malaysian rider Khairul Idham Bin Pawi and Japanese rider Kaito Toba.
Young, hungry, and talented, all four riders are rookies in their respective category and express both their enthusiasm and gratitude to Team Principal Midori Moriwaki and title sponsor PETRONAS for their ongoing support. Moriwaki and PETRONAS share the mission to facilitate the growth path of young Asian riders on the world stage, and so it is no coincidence that the team’s riders represent both Malaysia and Japan, as well as the UK.
The 2024 livery is front and centre in the launch video released today, as the team gears up for the opening round of the production-derived championship. This year, the stunning PETRONAS green colour scheme incorporates a distinctive gold line to mark the company’s 50th anniversary. The MIE Racing mission aligns with the spirit of Petronas’ remarkable 50-year journey, for a partnership that transcends the world of racing and is dedicated to making a difference.
Keen to build on last season’s performance, the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team is eager to embark on this latest challenge and will kickstart its 2024 campaign this very weekend, when the opening round of the WorldSBK and WorldSSP championships is staged at the Phillip Island Circuit in Australia.
Midori Moriwaki – PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team Owner
“I am happy and proud to present the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team SBK and the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team SSP, along with the four incredibly strong riders who will represent them. Adam and Tarran have demonstrated their significant talent and competitive spirit by scoring points at every opportunity and securing the team’s first victory in the SSP category before moving to SBK this year. Khairul and Kaito need no introduction, both with prestigious international racing experience, including the MotoGP World Championship where they have both reached the podium and won races in the Moto3 category. I am confident they will represent the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team colors admirably. In addition to our immediate racing endeavours, we plan to expand our focus towards comprehensive, enduring projects. Central to this commitment is the establishment of an innovative academy program. This program signifies a collaborative effort between partners to leverage WorldSBK and WorldSSP as pivotal platforms, catalysing a Malaysian talent development initiative. The primary objective is to foster and elevate the skills of emerging riders.”
Tarran Mackenzie – WorldSBK Rider #95
“Last year was my first season in the WorldSBK paddock. Not an easy season and it brought ups and downs but there were obvious highs, like victory at Most of course, a first win for both me and the team. After a tough start, that was a fantastic achievement. And now I’m excited to get going this season. Although I have a little SBK experience, I’m essentially a category rookie this season, and Adam too, so we know we’re in for a challenge. I basically just want to get riding, as we haven’t had a lot of test time with the 2024 machine. I don’t have any particular expectations right now; the main aim is to settle into it and keep progressing round by round, closing the gap to the front. We need to get comfortable and find a solid base setting that we can exploit at different tracks. As for Phillip Island, I’ve competed there twice before but never with a Superbike, so the pre-race test was useful. It’s a fun track, fast and flowing, though you never know what the weather’s going to bring. Australia’s one of my favourite countries too, so I’m looking forward to it. It’s great to be wearing PETRONAS colours and representing such an iconic global brand. The bike livery and my leathers look cool, and I can’t wait to get the kit on and try our best for everyone involved.”
Adam Norrodin – WorldSBK Rider #27
“Firstly, I want to thank the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team for giving me the opportunity to compete in WorldSBK. The 2023 Supersport season was tough at times, but we scored some solid results, particularly a top five at Most, and the team always did its best, fighting hard throughout the year. This year I jump up to the 1000cc bike, which marks the start of a new chapter for me. It’s an exciting challenge and I will work very hard to learn and progress, round by round. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, as this is my rookie season in what is a very high-level category. There will be many things to understand, not least the bike itself, but I know the team will do a great job and, if I can improve weekend by weekend, then I’ll be happy. As for Phillip Island, I really like the track layout and we were able to score points last year. The weather is an unknown, but we’ll take what comes – I don’t mind rain actually! Lastly, I want to thank PETRONAS for its valuable support. It’s an honour to be part of this family for another season, and especially in what is PETRONAS’ 50th anniversary year. We will do our very best to represent on track.”
Khairul Idham Bin Pawi – WorldSSP Rider #89
“I’m really looking forward to getting out on track at Phillip Island for the first of the season’s Supersport races. Our tests at Almeria and also here have gone well and have allowed me to get to know the new bike and team. It’s all been quite positive so far, and we’ve already improved a little in terms of top speed, though we still have a lot to do of course. We will continue to work step by step to improve both the bike and the riding. I’m very happy to be part of the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team and thank everybody involved for their hard work and support. I’m excited to really get started this weekend!”
Kaito Toba – WorldSSP Rider #27
“There is some nervous anticipation as we prepare for the first races at Phillip Island. I know the circuit well and hope that we can continue to build on the progress made during the recent tests. We’ve already identified some positives with the 2024 bike, but we need to keep working so that we can be competitive and fight in the races. I’m happy with the way the team is working, and I want to thank everybody for all their help so far. I hope to be able to repay the efforts of the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team with my performance on track. For now, we turn our attention to the first Phillip Island round.”
