Hector Barbera lands full Kawasaki BSB deal, praises ‘incredible’ fans
Hector Barbera is rather smitten with the British Superbike Championship as Kawasaki confirms he will see out season with the title-winning outfit
Hector Barbera will see out the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship with the factory-backed Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki team as a full-time replacement for the Glenn Irwin.
A hugely experienced GP rider who started 139 races in the MotoGP top flight between 2010 and 2017, Barbera has become a familiar face in the BSB paddock after being called up for numerous stand-in performances with Kawasaki over the season.
Making his debut with the team at Donington Park in place of Ben Currie on the second of the ZX-10RRs, Barbera impressed by out-performing Irwin on his debut to finish a best of sixth – still the team’s best result of the year.
Called up again to ride in place of an injured Irwin at Snetterton, he retained his place in the team as a temporary measure at Thruxton. In all, Barbera has already started nine BSB races.
As such, his official signing to Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki comes as little surprise but Barbera himself says it is the fan atmosphere of the series that has really enticed him to stay.
“I am very happy for this; sometimes in life you have bad news but sometimes you have very good news like this.
“I need to take advantage of this opportunity because I want to stay in this championship for the foreseeable future. I love the championship; the fans are incredible, and I am very grateful to the Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki team for this chance to prove myself.”
Champions in 2018 with Leon Haslam, Quattro Plant Kawasaki – run by the Bournemouth Kawasaki team – has endured a troubled 2019 campaign in defence with the rider signed to lead its challenge, Irwin, falling well below expectations before parting ways with the team ahead of Round 7 at Thruxton.
