WE only race to win – that's the message from Honda's motorcycle racing team after the shock news that it is pulling out of the 2014 British Superbike Championship.
The Louth-based team were previously sponsored by electrical giants Samsung – but that agreement has now come to an end and will not be renewed.
In addition to that financial blow, their number one rider – reigning British Superbike champion Alex Lowes – is now stepping up to the World Superbike competition.
So, with the team not in a position to realistically challenge for honours, bosses have made the decision to take a year out from racing.
Nick Campolucci, Honda's Head of Motorcycles (UK) said: "This is not a decision we have taken lightly and it was not our preferred option.
"But we feel that given the cumulative circumstances, it is the best course of action for us at this time.
"Honda goes racing to win. Unless we have the right elements in place to achieve the success on track we know we are capable of, our preferred option is to re-evaluate and re-structure for a stronger and more aligned effort.
"The British Superbikes series is very important to Honda UK and we plan a full return to the series in 2015."
Honda now plans to use 2014 as a development year.
A statement from the team revealed: "The time is right to re-evaluate the team's direction, re-structure and re-group, with a view to a planned full-time return to British Superbikes in 2015."
