Honda Racing UK - Thruxton race report - Supersport class
Honda Racing UK maintained its challenge at the sharp end of the 2026 Quattro Group British Supersport Championship at Thruxton, with Jack Kennedy strengthening his championship credentials and Dean Harrison underlining his own title ambitions aboard the Honda CBR600RR.
The weekend once again demonstrated the unique partnership between the two Honda Racing UK riders. Throughout practice and qualifying, Kennedy and Harrison worked together wherever possible to secure the strongest possible grid positions. It is a level of teamwork built on complete trust, but as soon as the lights go out both riders race for themselves, each focused on delivering the strongest possible result for Honda Racing UK.
That approach paid dividends in qualifying, with Kennedy securing second on the grid and Harrison lining up third, placing both CBR600RRs firmly in the fight from the outset.
The opening Sprint Race saw both riders immediately forming the leading group. Kennedy once again demonstrated the race intelligence that is synonymous of his championship campaigns, recognising when to attack and when to bank the maximum points available. His fifth-place finish may not have reflected outright pace, but it was another calculated result that kept his championship challenge on track.
Dean Harrison crossed the line seventh after battling throughout the race, collecting valuable points while remaining firmly in contention in the standings.
The Feature Race delivered another intensely competitive contest, with Kennedy once again fighting amongst the front-running group before taking fourth place, narrowly missing out on the podium by little more than half a second after 18 hard-fought laps. It was another measured performance, adding another strong points haul that keeps him second in the championship and well placed as the season moves into its decisive stages.
Harrison followed home in seventh after another determined ride. While the result didn’t fully reflect his pace, the weekend reinforced the strength of his championship campaign. Sitting fourth in the championship after seven rounds, Harrison has established himself as a genuine championship contender, rather than simply using the ride to stay sharp for his road racing commitments.
Jack Kennedy
My performance in the race on Saturday was okay, I gave it everything and it helped us make a decision on some changes for the feature race. Sunday was different and I finished the race feeling real frustration. I took every risk, made every move and rode my heart out, only to miss out on a podium. The strategy we had was good and the changes we’d made suited what I wanted to do. The safety car didn’t help and when Luke Stapleford passed me on the last lap and tucked into a Triumph shaped slipstream, there was no way I was keeping with them. It’s hard to take when you’re giving it everything and I’m frustrated with what I came away with. It feels like the end of the world but in the grand scheme of things, it’s probably not. We’ll look to Cadwell Park were I’ve got the race lap record. It’s the home round for the team as well and I won’t be happy with anything less than a win. We’ll keep pushing.
Dean Harrison
My pace was strong and I qualified well, I just wasn’t able to convert that into the finish that I wanted. A supersport bike isn’t as hard on the rear tyre as a superbike at Thruxton, but it’s still crucial that you get good feel into the chicanes and great drive out of them. You rarely get one without the other and I suffered at the start of the weekend on the way into the slower corners. I enjoyed my racing though, the boys gave me a great bike and it felt like I was riding the wheels off it. It’s frustrating seeing bikes driving away from me, we’ll see what we can do about that at the next one.
