The ‘Cathedral of Speed’ awaits for Honda Racing
Honda Racing is primed for action as, for the first time in six years, the Bennetts British Superbike Championship (BSB), and Quattro British Supersport Championship will return to TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands - known as the ‘cathedral of speed’ - for one of its most anticipated events in recent times.
It is 100 years since Assen first hosted motorcycle racing on the open roads around the town, and the current purpose-built venue celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. The 2.8-mile circuit configuration was completed prior to the 2010 season, and is remembered fondly by BSB riders and fans alike for its fast, sweeping nature and hugely passionate crowds.
In BSB, 2023 series champion Tommy Bridewell will race as the single factory-entered Honda Fireblade while team-mate Andrew Irwin recovers from surgery to his arm after crashing at the last round at Donington Park.
The Wiltshire racer has claimed his first race win of the season and a string of podium finishes reaching back to Snetterton in June, and is looking to build upon those results at this prestigious venue. With the team’s entire effort behind him, and a strong Assen record, he will be in the best position to challenge once again.
In the Supersport garage, meanwhile, the Assen weekend is one that title challenger Jack Kennedy is relishing as he prepares for battle on the Honda CBR600RR. Bidding to retain the crown that he won for the fifth time in 2024, the Irish racer currently sits third in the standings after dramatically closing the points gap in recent rounds.
Alongside him on the sister machine, Dean Harrison continues to edge closer to the podium and his goal of spraying the champagne in short circuit racing. As the team’s road racing specialist, Harrison has not once missed the podium in the longer form discipline so far in 2025, highlighted by his pair of Superstock victories in the Isle of Man TT, and has shown that he has the pace and the racecraft to reach his remaining goal.
Tommy Bridewell
“I think it’s really good for BSB to shake things up and go back to Assen after six years, obviously we couldn’t go there in Covid times but I was pleased to see it back on the calendar for this season. It’s a place I’ve always run well at, and it’s somewhere that really challenges you to be on top of your game. The track is super-grippy, really fast and flowing until the last little bit of the lap, and it just makes you want to push as hard as you can. It’s a good atmosphere, the locals love racing and I’m sure that a fair few BSB fans will be making the trip because it’s such a good experience. I’m motivated, I’m giving it my absolute all out there, and so we’ll see what we’ve got to work with and improve where we need to.”
Andrew Irwin
“Honestly, I am so disappointed not to be riding when we go back to Assen, it’s a circuit that everyone remembers so well and it’s a real pleasure to race on. But there is a bigger picture for me and when I went for further examination of the knock I picked up at Donington it became clear that there was a little more going on there than we first thought. Last weekend I had surgery to correct what was actually a fairly significant injury, and my medical team is pleased with the results. My aim now is to get properly healed before I can get back to where I have been in the past few rounds, having got myself and the bike into a string of podium finishes and to be challenging for wins. I hate to interrupt the progress we’ve made this summer, but at least we do that knowing it’s the best option for my health and career. Meanwhile I’ll be at Assen to support the team in every way I can and, of course, to cheer on my team-mates.”
Jack Kennedy
“Assen is amazing, the atmosphere’s incredible and it’s just a cool place to be. The track is one of the best in the world for motorcycle racing so I’m excited to go there. I’ve raced at Assen on World Supersport, British Superbike and British Supersport and I think it really plays to the strengths of the Honda CBR600RR. It’s a long, fast lap and the hairpin will suit the bike well. It reminds me of the last corner at Knockhill. I don’t think we’ll be at much of a disadvantage and I feel we really excel on the fast, flowing stuff as well. There’s no two ways about it, we need to start winning and that’s what I know how to do. We’ve got three rounds left now, and we just need to up the ante in every area if we want to win the championship.”
Dean Harrison
“I’m really excited to go back to Assen. I haven’t been since before Covid, and now it’s back on the calendar, I’m really looking forward to it because it’s a lovely place. The first ever time I went to Assen was on a Supersport bike, and it’s somewhere I know from riding both a 600cc and a Superbike, so I can’t wait to get going. Between Donington and Assen I went and did the Goodwood Revival on a 1962 Honda which wasn’t the quickest bike but it’s such a spectacular event and great fun. So coming from there to the ‘cathedral of speed’ is a real treat - the facilities, the people, the town itself all make it an exciting place to go.”
Team Principal Neil Fletcher
“It’s tremendous for BSB to make a long-awaited return to Assen. Everything about the venue screams world-class motorcycle racing, the facilities are excellent and for the British fans in particular it’s been a long time that they’ve had to wait to make the crossing. Obviously, this interruption in Andrew’s run of form lately is not what we want to see. But it is absolutely the right decision to have made, and for him to have undergone the surgery to his arm that will ensure he is in the best place when he returns to racing. In the meantime, we have a Supersport title within reach with Jack and we will continue to push forward in BSB to give Tommy the best chance of adding to his total of wins in 2025.”