LS Honda Racing with Barragan and De Dycker!
LS Honda Racing is pleased to announce that Jonathan Barragan will compete for the team in 2012. The 26-year-old Barragan is the best Spanish motocross rider ever. Jonathan has won six MX1 GPs so far and has three Spanish MX1 titles to his name. Next to Barragan will Ken Dycker (27) will drive for LS Honda Racing again next year. Ken is both an ex-German and ex-British MX1 champion and finished second in the Belgian Championship this season. The Lubbeken native has five MX1 GP victories to his name. With De Dycker and Barragan, the Honda Europe-supported LS presents Honda Racing van Steven Lettani her strongest driving duo ever!
The proven combination of the Belgian team and Honda starts its fourth season in the MX1-GP category. By supporting both riders in the best possible way LS Honda Racing will assert themselves next year with top performances in the Grand Prix and in the final standings of the various championships. Jonathan Barragan previously proved that he has the speed to fight for the world title, while 'Keeno' finished third in the Motocross World Championship three years ago.
New start for LS Honda Racing
After internal shifts this season, Steven Lettani will once again take over team management. LS Honda is known as a family team with a passionate, professional staff and dedicated partners. Two years ago the team made its international breakthrough with a third place in the final standings of the World Cup. GP victories were also scored in 2009 and 2010. This season the team failed to live up to the high expectations. Both drivers, Ken De Dycker and Shaun Simpson, had a difficult year. Still, Simpson knew the highly regarded open Belgian title the third consecutive important award for LS Honda after the Belgian title with Clément Desalle in 2009 and the Italian title of David Guarneri last year. Barragan and De Dycker have the talent and experience to claim their place among the fastest motocross riders in the world. Coupled with the efficient Honda CRF450R, Jonathan and Ken could deliver some surprises!
Jonathan Barragan: “As a driver you are only as good as your last race. In 2010 I had a serious fracture in my femur, this season was okay but it didn't bring me what I wanted. I don't want to be nostalgic about 2008 and 2009 when I was super fast. Actually, it's the other way around: I want to look ahead and I'm ready to rebuild. Switching to a young and ambitious team may seem like a step back for a factory driver, but I have no problem with that. It's not about my ego, it's about results. As a child I really looked up to Honda riders such as Jeremy McGrath and Stefan Everts, that's why it's so cool to now be on a red motorcycle myself! I was looking for a new challenge in my career and LS Honda Racing fits the bill perfectly. We have the same goals. Next season I want to prove myself in the GPs and I want to defend my Spanish MX1 title.”
Ken Dycker: “I'm very happy to stay with LS Honda Racing, for several reasons actually. As everyone knows, the 2011 season was very disappointing for me: I had a lot of bad luck, got hurt and after the GP of the Czech Republic I was even sidelined for a few weeks with a neck injury. From that moment on, I completely concentrated on 2012. Over the past few weeks we tested new components and I managed to come back strong during the final of the Lotto Trophy in Mont-Saint Guibert. It was a fantastic feeling to win again, to have fun on the bike and especially to know that I can reach my best level again. I definitely want to go for it and that also applies to LS Honda Racing. We learned a lot from each other in 2011 and it is motivating that there is now the continuity that I have missed in recent seasons by changing teams.”
Steven Lettani, team owner and manager of LS Honda Racing: “I'm really looking forward to competing with Ken De Dycker and Jonathan Barragan next season. We are convinced of Ken's qualities, but unfortunately he was not able to show them enough in the past season. We will adjust our program around De Dycker based on our experience in 2011 so that we can perfectly utilize the great potential of this big guy. It is important for LS Honda Racing as a team to have two strong riders; at least riders for the top 10 of the World Championship. With Jonathan Barragan we have brought in a rider who has made his mark at the highest level. I know what Jonathan is capable of and I know how the team and our CRF450R can help him shine again. Jonathan is not a talker, he is a hard worker and indicated quite early on that he would like to work with LS Honda Racing. That is the perfect attitude. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the managers of both drivers for their constructive attitude during the negotiations. Finally, a sincere thank you to Honda and all our loyal sponsors for their loyal support.”
Roger Harvey: Honda Motor Europe Off-road Racing Manager: “We are very pleased to continue working with LS Honda Racing as a support team in the FIM MX1 World Championship. I am also personally happy that Ken is staying on Honda, because with a little more luck he can perform again as we have come to expect from him; riding at the front in the MX1 GPs. Like everyone, I am very curious to see Jonathan riding a Honda. Clearly, 2011 was not his year. Still, I believe he can bounce back and deliver the results he and LS Honda Racing have in store. Of course, Jonathan is no longer a rookie, but he could be one of the surprises of the 2012 season!”
Credit photos: CDS
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