Bradl says World Superbike remains "unfinished business"

The former Moto2 champion switched to Honda’s WSBK squad this year after losing his seat in MotoGP, but had his season cut short by a right wrist injury that forced him to miss the last three rounds.

His best result prior to that was a sixth-place finish at Assen, leaving him a lowly 14th in the points.

Bradl has yet to recommit to the Ten Kate-run Honda team, which has signed Leon Camier for the 2018 season, amid reports he could switch to a MotoGP test role with the Japanese manufacturer.

But the German says he is still in talks to continue in WSBK, and that he isn’t ready to give up on the project after a single disappointing season.

"We are still negotiating [with Ten Kate],” Bradl told Motorsport.com. “The situation got delayed for a very long time and I don't know exactly why.

“For me Superbike is still on the agenda. Here in Valencia I will have some other talks and then I will choose which direction to take. Next week the situation will be much clearer for me.

Asked what needed to happen to recommit to WSBK, Bradl said: "That the project goes in the right direction. Also, it's not my character to leave after one year with unfinished business.

"I know that the team and myself can do everything better. It would be nice to show that."

Honda MotoGP boss Livio Suppo admitted on Friday that the Japanese manufacturer was looking into the possibility of establishing a European-based testing team, but insisted “nothing is decided”.

Bradl said the rise of European manufacturers in MotoGP – with KTM joining Aprilia and Ducati this season – had made the sport’s Japanese marques consider expanding their testing operations.

“I think everybody knows what Ducati have done over the past few years,” he said. “KTM has shown a great performance this year.

“Next year there will be 19 races and less [pre-season] tests in the future. That's why it's an interesting opportunity and why the other manufacturers think about it.

"But for the Japanese manufacturers it's more difficult, otherwise they would have had a European test team for a long time."