Honda Racing UK heads to the Briggs Equipment North West 200
The Causeway Coast is calling for Honda Racing UK as the team ventures to the Triangle course of the North West 200 to participate in the team’s first road race of the year.
Dean Harrison gears up to race on the roads in Honda red for the very first time, utilising the new 2024 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. He will be hoping that the switch to Honda will help power him to the top step of the podium at this year’s North West 200 for the first time in an already impressive career that includes eight podiums, three of which were achieved in 2023.
When John McGuinness lines up on the start line of this year’s event it will mark thirty years since he made his road racing debut at the Triangle course. He now has his name etched into the history books as one of the sports all-time superstars. A six-time winner at the event on the Causeway Coast and eager to add another podium to his name, John heads to the event keen to continue cementing his legacy as one of the sport's true icons.
Returning for his second consecutive year with the team, and eager to repay the faith that Honda has given in retaining his services, Nathan Harrison has his feet firmly planted on the ground and his sights set on building the foundations for a solid year of racing on the roads. He looks to learn as much as he can from his two vastly experienced teammates and targets solid top-ten finishes.
Due to the demands of the 2024 calendar and schedule, combined with challenges in the supply chain regarding parts and materials, Honda Racing UK will not be running Superbike or Supersport machinery at this year’s NW200. As a result, riders Dean Harrison, John McGuinness MBE and Nathan Harrison will utilise Superstock specification Fireblades in both the Superbike and Superstock classes throughout the event.
The Honda Racing team kick off their 2024 road racing program tomorrow with the first track action of this year’s North West 200, Superbike Practice, scheduled for 10.30 am.
Team Manager Havier Beltran
I am hugely excited to be heading to the North West 200, the event forms such an important part of Honda’s racing calendar and we are thrilled to be participating in the event once more. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the calendar this year and the significant delays in sourcing parts and materials, we are only going to be racing Superstock machines. Obviously, this is less than ideal, but we are still hugely excited to see how Dean, John and Nathan can perform on their 2024 Fireblades.
#5 Dean Harrison
Look, this is obviously not how we planned to come to the North West 200, but it’s the circumstance that we have and we will keep on going. I am still determined to go out there and give it my all and fight for some great results. The North West is always a great event, for me, it’s the first road race of the year and the first time I get to go flat out on a closed road. I’ll go out there, get a feel for it and build into things and take it from there.
#1 John McGuinness MBE
If you'd had said to me thirty years ago when I first came to the North West 200 that I would still be racing here into my fifties I’d have thought you were mad! But here we are, back for another go. This is an event that I have always loved coming to and I don't think you could find a more picturesque paddock in the world. When the sun is shining there is nowhere like it and I can’t wait to get going.
#25 Nathan Harrison
I can’t wait to start my first race of the year and I’m really looking forward to getting my year started. I’ve just had a really successful two days of testing at Oulton Park and I’m looking forward to racing this new Fireblade for the first time. Last year this event didn’t quite go to plan, but I am confident that we can get five strong race finishes under our belt and lay all of the foundations to build into the year ahead.