2011 Endurance World Championship
Once again, Cameron Donald will stand in as the third rider for the Honda TT Legends team when the 2011 Endurance World Championship heads to Japan for the Suzuka 8-Hours July 31.
Donald will join 17-time Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness and Keith Amor on the team that contests the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. Cameron Donald will be the substitute rider for Steve Plater, who broke his arm during Thruxton British Superbike, and won’t be able to race at Suzuka.
The Australian, who was also a relief rider in the Bol d’Or 24-Hour EWC round, will take part in qualifying with McGuinness and Amor. Following qualifying, a decision will be made by Honda TT Legends team on who will compete in the 8-hour race itself at Suzuka, Round 3 of the Endurance World Championship.
Cameron Donald (Honda TT Legends CBR1000RR) says: “It’s a lifelong dream of mine to compete in the Suzuka 8-hour and I am honored to be taking part with the Honda TT Legends. I obviously feel for Steve and wish him a speedy recovery – I hope I can do him justice if I get the opportunity to race.”
Neil Tuxworth (Honda TT Legends Team Manager) says: “This has been a difficult decision but we talked to Steve at length and in the end, he and the team know that he is not going to be fit enough for Suzuka.
“Cameron is our official reserve rider so it makes perfect sense for him to stand in. We won’t be taking a reserve rider to Suzuka – all three will qualify and we will make a decision on which two riders will race after qualifying. If the conditions are hard we may even run a three-rider team. It’s a new circuit for all the riders and the extreme heat and humidity make it the toughest race of the year so let’s see how we go.”
