Honda Racing completes successful Spanish test.
The tests marked the first opportunity for the team to venture out of Honda Racing UK HQ in Louth, Lincolnshire ahead of the upcoming British Superbike Championship and road races at the NW200 and Isle of Man TT.
In the Superbike class, Ryan Vickers and Jason O’Halloran, both riding 2026 Honda Fireblades, focussed on getting comfortable and acquainted initially, before looking at specific areas for improvement.
In the Supersport category, Jack Kennedy enjoyed his first ride of the year aboard the 2026 Honda CBR600RR, using the early sessions to familiarise himself with the machine and begin development ahead of the season.
In the Supersport category, Jack Kennedy enjoyed his first ride of the year aboard the 2026 Honda CBR600RR, using the early sessions to familiarise himself with the machine and begin development ahead of the season.
Dean Harrison completed extensive running on the Superstock specification Fireblade, while also beginning preparations for the team’s road racing campaign alongside John McGuinness MBE.
The test also marked the first outing for the team under new Team Manager, Scott Hargreaves, who has stepped into the role for 2026 after serving as crew chief last season. With riders, crew and equipment all working together for the first time this year, the focus was on establishing a strong foundation for the season ahead.
The team now looks forward to the first official ZYN British Superbike Championship test in April.
Team Manager Scot Hargreaves
It's great to see the new faces in the team integrate so well for this test. It's not just about the specifics of each bike and rider combination, it's about seeing the team build the foundations needed for a successful season in BSB and on the roads.
The size and scale of this effort shows Honda's commitment to both BSB and the roads. I wanted this test to be an opportunity for our riders to ask for absolutely anything and for their crews to be able to immediately deliver it.
On a personal level, the difference between crew chief and team manager has already been digested, I'm as dedicated to success as I ever was as a crew chief and I can't wait to see our season come together.
#22 Jason O'Halloran
Obviously BSB bikes aren't new to me, but after my time away in the World Endurance Championship, it feels like a novelty to be able to be so specific in the setup I'm looking for. Great endurance bikes are setup with compromises made for each rider that shares the seat. I'm really enjoying being able to make this bike suit exactly what I'm looking for and I feel immediately comfortable being around my new crew.
In terms of physicality, a BSB bike is a different proposition to an endurance bike and I've had to my off-bike training plan to suit the nature of what the season has in store for me. Being back with Honda feels great, looking across the garage and seeing so many driven people all here to give us riders the best chance possible of delivering wins feels exciting.
Ryan Vickers
The Fireblade felt good straight away and we were able to run consistently fast lap times from the morning of the first day. The seat time I had in Phillip Island on the World Superbike spec' bike was great, but early indications from this BSB spec bike is that it's more communicative. I think this is reflected in the consistency we've seen so early. It's an exciting project, I'm really enjoying working with my crew. I moved house and am now only a few miles from the team in Louth and I think that shows already.
Jack Kennedy
I was so ready to get back on the bike that I was practically bouncing by the time we got to pitlane on day one. Typically I don't ride motorcycles in the off season and this year was no different, I haven't twisted a throttle since I stepped off the bike with the team at the end of the season in 2025.
That hunger to ride feels like it gives me great focus. It drives me to search for perfection with the crew and make each lap count, even this early in the season. All of us riders will have put in between 60 and 70 laps a day during these tests, I like to think of them as the building blocks for the season. I'm happy, the boys are happy and the bike feels great.
Dean Harrison
I changed software and hardware and feel like we made positive changes every time. I'm particularly happy with the connection I have with the throttle and the transition to being deep on the brakes. I know the other riders have said the same thing and I don't want it to sound repetitive, but the team I have around me is really good. This is the kind of thing that road racing fans might not think about when they see me flat out through Station corner or coming out of the Creg, but it's crucial. With a good team around me I can focus on delivering the results we all want.
John McGuinness MBE
This is my second time at Monteblanco following a few days out here spinning laps with Dean and some mates earlier this year.
There's some new members of the team here to gel with and that's started really well. We're all singing from the same song sheet which feels good considering it's so early in the season. The bike doesn't ride itself but experience tells me that when my crew is smiling, I'll be smiling too.
