SAMSUNG Honda's team manager is predicting an "exciting season" as the British Superbike Championship goes full throttle this weekend.
Havier Beltran and the Louth-based line-up are at Brands Hatch for the opening round of the new season, with BSB qualifying set to begin this afternoon.
Ryuichi Kiyonari makes a welcome comeback to Honda and BSB, while his new team-mate Alex Lowes will debut for the team in the Superbike class.
Following a year away from the UK that saw him win the 2012 Asia Road Racing Championship, three-time champion Kiyonari returns with his sights set firmly on an unprecedented fourth crown.
The Japanese ace is joined by BSB race winner Alex Lowes, who had an impressive campaign onboard the CBR1000RR Fireblade last season.
The opening event also kicks off the team's campaign in the British Supersport Championship with Jason O'Halloran aboard the new CBR600RR.
O'Halloran joins the British Supersport grid after competing with the team in the Superstock 1000 class.
The Australian has previously been a title winner in the Australian Supersport class and is ready to showcase the new Honda model in a bid for the British title.
Beltran, pictured above, is excited about the season ahead – with 12 rounds to come before the end of October.
"The Samsung Honda team is looking forward to the opening race of the season at Brands Hatch," he said.
"Pre-season testing wasn't as fruitful as we would have liked because of the weather conditions, so we still have some work at the opening rounds, but this is no doubt the case for everyone.
"We've an exciting season ahead with a new line-up in the Superbike class with Kiyo and Alex, and also returning to Supersport with Jason."
Louth rider Peter Hickman is back for another BSB campaign, after signing for the GBmoto Honda team at the end of last year.
'Hicky' (below), turns 26 on Monday, and will be hoping to make it a double celebration in the first races of the season tomorrow.
The rider finished 17th in last year's championship with Buildbase BMW, but also notched a top ten finish in the British round of the World Superbike Championship at Donington.
