Honda WorldSBK racing operations manager Chris Pike was at Portimao, working on the team’s preparations for 2019.

As yet, nothing is firm on whether Red Bull is staying as a title sponsor or if there is any expansion of Honda’s efforts in the championship.

“We are still making the plans for next year. We have not advanced as much as we would like to. We expect to advance definitely in the next month. All the discussion back at head office, the Torro Rosso deal was already set up with F1 - Red Bull and Honda amalgamation,” Pike told bikesportnews.com.

“Everything else apart from MotoGP has to be put on the back burner while they sort that out. We are still feeling the effects of that. Currently the Red Bull team in F1 have Renault engines, but are moving to Honda so with that in mind we would like to think that that would filter its way down here, but we have no confirmation of that at the moment.”

It is believed Leon Camier has already agreed the second year option on his contract and that team boss Kervin Bos is in advanced negotations with Tom Sykes for the second seat. However, Marco Melandri has old ties and friends in HRC, so it might go the Italian’s way.