Stiggy Honda out of WSB

The Stiggy Honda team that ran Leon Haslam and John Hopkins in World Superbike in 2009 has been forced out of racing due to the ongoing economical crisis and budget shortfall. The Johan Stigefelt run team made the step up to WSB in 2009 while continuing to run their successful World Supersport programme, but after the withdrawal of team investors have been forced to terminate all of its racing activities.

It is a bitter blow for Stigefelt and the World Superbike championship in general as despite being in their rookie WSB season; the team were a revelation from the opening round of the championship. During the year Haslam secured four podiums and ultimately finished sixth overall in the championship standings ahead of a host of full factory bikes.

Up until round seven of the championship Stiggy Honda were the top Honda team in the standings ahead of the dominant Ten Kate Honda squad but Haslam was ultimately overtaken by friend and rival Jonathan Rea in the standings.