Honda confirms Iker Lecuona, Xavi Vierge for WorldSBK 2022

Honda has confirmed the long rumoured news that MotoGP's Iker Lecuona and Moto2's Xavi Vierge will form the factory team's all-new World Superbike line-up for 2022.

Lecuona, still just 21, is switching to WorldSBK after two seasons in MotoGP.

The Spaniard has shown flashes of speed, with a best result of sixth in Austria this season, but is only 18th in the world championship standings and - like team-mate Danilo Petrucci - has lost his Tech3 KTM seat to Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez for next season.

Countryman Vierge, 24, has raced in the Moto2 class since 2015, claiming four podiums and three pole positions but - like Lecuona - is yet to win a grand prix. Vierge is currently 11th in this year's Moto2 standings, during his second year at Petronas SRT.

The pair will replace Alvaro Bautista, already confirmed as re-joining Ducati next season, and Leon Haslam, whose future plans are yet to be announced.

“Over the time spent working together, we have had the opportunity to appreciate Leon as both a rider and as a person," said team manager Leon Camier.

"We want to thank him for his hard work, dedication and full commitment to our project and the team. It has been a pleasure to work with him, and we wish him all the best for the future.”

Bautista (two podiums) and Haslam (best of fourth) are currently tenth and twelfth in the WorldSBK standings heading into next month's Indonesian finale.

Given their young ages, should Lecuona and/or Vierge make a success of WorldSBK they could well be given a path back to grand prix racing, with Honda.