WSS: Parkalgar Honda launches.

The Parkalgar Honda World Supersport team staged its official 2008 launch ahead of the official presentation of the venue it hopes to promote this season, the impressive Aut?dromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao.

Riders Craig Jones and Miguel Praia were joined by nearly 300 local press and television stations, as well as Spanish superbike racer Carlos Checa and Julian Thomas from FG Sport, the organisation behind the World Supersport Championship.

"It is incredible how much support the team and complex is receiving from the Portuguese media, government and public," team manager Simon Buckmaster said, "The official launch was fantastically well attended and received.

"The works are well underway for the complex but, for the race team, our preparations are now almost complete and our bikes and equipment will be in transit from this weekend on their way to Qatar for the opening round of the championship. Craig and Miguel will be flying the flag for Parkalgar, keeping it in the limelight while the building works progress through the summer. It is our aim that, by the time the championship comes to Parkalgar in November, we will be fighting for the race win and the title at our home track."

The Parkalgar complex will be one of the most advanced race tracks in the world when it is completed later this year, with those behind it hoping to host the final round of the World Supersport and Superbike championships on 2 November. Featuring numerous track layouts, a kart circuit, a five-star hotel complex and some of the best leisure facilities in the world, it is a venue with world-beating ambitions, and building work is already six weeks ahead of schedule - no mean feat on a ?250million investment.