Ten Kate signs Iain MacPherson

After the sudden departure of Pere Riba the Ten Kate Honda World Supersport team were left without a rider for next weekend's opening Supersport race at Valencia. For the entire weekend the team's phones rang constantly as they were barraged with enquiries from journalists and employment requests from a host of riders.

Team manager Ronald ten Kate is pleased to announce that he has signed Iain MacPherson to ride the CBR600FS in the 2002 season. MacPherson, who rode for the Dutch team in the World Thunderbike series back in 1996, has always kept in close contact with the team and was a natural choice replace Riba.

"I want to be World Champion Supersport," explained MacPherson, and this is the best option to achieve this goal. I feel sorry for Klaffenbock's OPCM-squad but this is an offer I cannot refuse. I know the Ten Kate Honda team, since riding with them in 1996 and I know what they're capable of. I'm looking forward to test the yellow Honda CBR600FS which in my opinion, with its Pirelli Tyres and WP Suspension, is the best bike in the Championship."

After a hectic few days trying to recover from the sudden departure of Riba, the team is now looking forward to getting Iain on the CBR600FS and getting the bike dialled in to suit the hard-riding Scot. Known by some TV commentators as 'Fearless' MacPherson, there can be no doubt that Iain will give it his all when he rides out onto the Ricardo Tomo circuit on Friday March 8 for his first qualifying session on the Ten Kate Honda CBR600FS.

Ronald ten Kate, the Ten Kate Honda team manager also felt some remorse after being forced to recruit a rider from another team so close to the start of the season, "I'm not completely comfortable with the situation, but our hand was forced by Riba's last minute move. But we've spoken to Klaffenbock and come to an amicable agreement. We were very lucky to get a talented rider like Iain so close to the start of the season."

Team-owner Gerrit ten Kate has mixed feeling about the whole affair. "It feels like we've lost a friend," said ten Kate of Riba. "While I try to understand Riba's motivation, the things which have happened to us over the few last days left me dumbstruck. But we have to look to the future now and I'm happy that Iain MacPherson was available when we needed him. I will make sure he gets a warm welcome in my team."

Iain MacPherson Profile