BSB: Barbera returns with TAG Racing

Hector Barbera will return to the British Superbike Championship this season with TAG Honda Racing.

The ex-MotoGP rider will join the TAG team in the British Superbike class, adding to his experience. The Spanish rider will race the new Honda CBR1000RR-R SP Fireblade this season.

Barbera is no stranger to the British Superbike paddock, racing in 2019 and 2020 on a Kawasaki and a BMW. 2019 would be his best season in the series, racing for Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki. He would finish 17^th in the championship with the team, achieving a sixth place on his debut in the Championship.

The Spaniard would later join the OMG Racing line-up for 2020, riding alongside Luke Mossey, on the BMW. Barbera would finish 19^th in the standings, with multiple top-10 finishes throughout the year.

After leaving the British Superbike championship he would spend multiple seasons overseas, racing in MotoAmerica. He would ride for the Tytler Cycle Racing team, finishing fourth in the 2022 standings.

The Spaniard would spend 16 years in the Grand Prix paddock, eight of them in the premier class, MotoGP. His best season in MotoGP would be in 2016, racing for the Avintia Ducati, with a best finish of fourth in Malaysia.

Barbera would finish 10^th in the 2016 MotoGP Championship, which would earn him the Open class title. He would also race in 125cc and 250cc throughout his Grand Prix career, where he would be a race winner.

Barbera said: “I am very motivated to get going this season with TAG Racing. Returning to the British Superbike series is very exciting and is a move I am most looking forward to. Working with the team to find a way forward together has been a positive journey and I am so pleased that we have been able to reach this agreement.

“I would really like to thank Gary and Rob for the opportunity and to the BSB series for being so welcoming.”

Team Manager, Gary Winfield, added: “Hector brings considerable experience, both domestically and internationally and we are delighted to have him on board. As a team, we have learned a lot over the last couple of seasons about the capabilities of the bike, and how it demands a skilled rider to take it and make it their own. We have every confidence in Hector and his desire to win.

“Our ambitions are to be back up the sharp end of the Championship and Hector reflects the same appetite; so together we have a passion to succeed and with the continued support from Honda Racing UK we feel we have the right package to do just that.”

Image: britishsuperbike.com