Xavi Fores is heading into the unknown but is relishing the c🔜hallenge as he takes on his Bennetts Bꦡritish Superbike debut having joined Honda Racing for 2019.

The Spanish rider ended 20♊18 as a regular World Superbike podium fighter but after finding himself without a ride he moves into BSB with the Honda Racing squad and now gears up for the task of learning a number of new circuits in a new championship adapting to the Honda Fireblade.

After finishing the Silverstone BSB test ninth quickest last week, having backed out of a late flying lap, and impressing during the winter tests in🌸 Spain and Portugal the BSB rookie feels content with th𒈔e early progress he’s made with Honda and is hopeful of building upon it at the opening round.

“Finally it’s Round 1 this weekend it feels like it has been a very long winter,” Fores said. “We had a very good final test at Silverstone last week and we 🐟have made a great improvement with the Fireblade.

“The last time I rode Silverstone was💧 2011, but it was on the GP circuit, so I had some time to adjust to the shorter layout. At the start I was missing some reference poin🤪ts with braking and getting on the gas, but towards the end of the day we had improved and were constantly on the pace.

“During the fꦜinal session I went out on a new tyre and was doing a flying lap, but had a big highside and nearly crashed, so I decided to finish the day 𒆙and not risk anything a week before the race.

“The Fireblade is working really well and I know we have a good base setting for the race weekend. A huge thanks to the team for all theജir hard work getting us 𝔍to where we are now, I am looking forward to my first BSB race and can’t wait to experience the weekend.”

Fores is the first Spanish rider to take on a full BSB campaign since Gregorio Lavilla’s three-year stint in the national series, which included hiওs 2005 title success, while Fores is the first rider from his home nat🦩ion to compete the championship for eight years following Joan Lascorz’s 2011 Brands Hatch GP wildcard.