A month after the conclusion of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbikes season, Lincolnshire-based Honda Racing UK have confirmed their line-up for the 2024 campaign.
Andrew Irwin remains at the Louth-based team, while Dean Harrison has moved to the team after he parted ways with DAO Kawasaki earlier this year, who he had been with for eight years.
Honda will be hoping that 2024 is a step in the right direction after a disappointing 2023 season.
This comes just days after the announcement from Japan that Honda have designed a new CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, with upgrades to the gearbox, aerodynamics, power delivery and a rebalanced chassis. This should make the bike easier to ride, and therefore hopefully produce better results on the track.
Honda’s difficult 2023 was not helped by the injury Irwin sustained at Knockhill Circuit early in the season.
Irwin himself is hoping for an improved year. Speaking to the Honda Racing website, he said: “I am under no illusions that I need to have a good season, I am going into 2024 to rebuild my career after a very difficult 2023, and I want to come back and be fast and always be there fighting.”
For Harrison, 2024 has a new dynamic as a rider. DAO Kawasaki were always a one-rider team while he was with them, therefore he sees now having teammate as a positive.
He said: “I am also really looking forward to being part of a multi-rider team after riding in a solo team for so long. To be able to see each other’s data and collaborate on ideas is going to be of great value to me.”
Honda Racing UK have also announced a return to the Quattro Plant British Supersport Championship for the first time since 2009, when they won the championship. This championship supports the British Superbike Championship and follows their calendar.
Jack Kennedy will ride the new CBR600RR for the team in a championship which the 35-year-old has won four times, most recently in 2022. He said: “The targets are clear, we are there to win. It’s hard not to ignore the pressure of this, it is a factory team and I’ve performed in this class before, but I will take it all on board and I will handle it like I have always done.”
Kennedy returns to the class he has been so dominant in after a year in British Superbikes with Mar-Train Yamaha. He finished 10th in the standings but has been replaced by 2015 Moto3 World Champion Danny Kent.
The team have also announced their line-up for the 2024 road racing season, with a three-rider attack for both the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT.
British Superbike rider, Dean Harrison, will also race at both road events, competing on a Supersport, Superstock and Superbike. Joining him is Nathan Harrison, for his second year with Honda, who will also compete at both events on the same three bikes as Dean.
Nathan Harrison said: “I’ve seen how the team works and I’ve built a really strong working relationship with everyone, I know what I have to do and how to try and get the best out of everything. I can’t thank Havier [the team manager] and the team enough for giving me another shot and I can’t wait to get going again.”
Completing the road racing line-up is the legend, John McGuinness MBE, who has 23 wins and 47 podiums at the TT. He will not ride the Supersport bike and instead focus solely on Superstock and Superbike.
He said: “I’m looking forward to working with my new teammates and getting stuck into a testing program with a new Fireblade. It’s always nice to get your teeth into something new, so I’m keen to get stuck in, it’s not often that Honda goes backwards!”
Superstock and Superbikes are known as the “big bikes,” with both being 1000cc, while the Supersport bike is 600cc.
Both McGuinness and Nathan Harrison will compete in some selected rounds of the Pirelli National Superstock championship, which supports British Superbikes, in preparation for the road racing season.
Image: Honda Racing UK