According to Team Manager, Paul Free, there was some debate as to whether Honda would race the 1000 before all parts and systems were in place. However, the Team are so confident of its competitiveness as a production bike that the decision was made to run it in the line up regardless.

The only modifications in place at the moment include a slip on muffler, limited front suspension components and shocks from the CBR600RR which were modified to fit the 1000.

“Obviously we would have liked to have everything in place prior to the weekend,” Free said. “But we’ve had a few hold ups and will race the bike as is.”

“Josh (Brookes) and Adam (Fergusson) were not far off the mark a couple of weeks ago during testing at Eastern Creek so with these few components in place, I think everyone is going to see Castrol Honda up with the front runners.”

The Team undertook some further testing at Wakefield Park yesterday with some very encouraging results.

Although riders Josh Brookes and Adam Fergusson will be racing the new machine in more or less stock standard form, they are both mentally and physically primed to start the season.

As a local to the area, Eastern Creek is Josh’s favourite track and he is looking forward to the first race. “I made a lot of improvements toward the end of last year and have been working very hard on my fitness for the last few months,” Josh said. “I think this will be an even better season for me. The bike is just awesome even straight out of the crate so imagine what it will be able to do as we develop it even more.”