With the stunning new 2026 livery of the CBR1000RR-R revealed, focus now shifts to the people behind the project as the Honda HRC team gears up for the opening round of the 2026 Superbike World Championship in Australia.

The new season marks the beginning of an important new chapter for Honda HRC in WorldSBK, with an all-new rider line-up featuring Jake Dixon and Somkiat Chantra. Dixon is set to make his WorldSBK race debut with the Honda HRC team next week. Despite challenging weather conditions that affected parts of the winter test programme, the British rider has made steady progress and continues to build confidence with the CBR1000RR-R under the guidance of his crew chief, Tom Jojic.

At the same time, Chantra continues his recovery following a right arm training injury and will not be able to compete in the Australian round. The Thai rider has had his stitches and cast removed and has started physiotherapy, while remaining in contact with his team and crew chief, Tetsuya Sasaki. Test rider Tetsuta Nagashima, who stepped in for Chantra the last two test sessions, will also replace him on track at Phillip Island.

The 2026 season also represents a new step for the squad, with Yuji Mori taking on the role of Team Manager. Having previously worked within the Honda HRC WorldSBK structure in a technical role, the Japanese manager brings continuity to the project, along with international racing experience that includes MotoGP and the Suzuka 8 Hours with the Honda HRC factory team.

The final two days of official pre-season testing will take place on 16–17 February at the iconic Phillip Island circuit, ahead of the season-opening round, scheduled for 20–22 February at the same track. The stage is set for the start of what promises to be a highly competitive and exciting WorldSBK season.

Jake Dixon

 “It’s an incredible feeling to be a factory Honda HRC rider and to represent Honda in WorldSBK. Being part of this project is something I’ve always dreamed of and I’m genuinely excited to get started and begin this new chapter. When you join a factory project like this, you know there will always be new things to try and learn, and you also need to be smart and use your time effectively. Having such a strong and experienced crew around me makes a huge difference. Meeting the team for the first time was a little intimidating, I admit, simply due to the project’s size and scale, but everyone was extremely welcoming and that gives me confidence heading into the season. I truly believe 2026 will be a year of learning and growth, and I know the team will help me develop step by step. It’s also great to work alongside a strong test team: Nagashima has already done a fantastic job, and the arrival of Jonathan Rea is a real asset for Honda. We know each other quite well and exchanging ideas and feedback has been very positive. Our comments about the bike seem similar too, which is important for development. As for the CBR1000RR-R, it’s a powerful machine that demands a lot of respect, so right now the focus is on really understanding it and knowing when to take risks and when not to, rather than trying to be a hero. Our track time during winter testing was limited due to bad weather, but riding in the wet was useful anyway, especially for me as a Superbike rookie on a new bike, because every lap helps me to build experience. Lastly, I’d like to wish Somkiat all the best in his recovery. He’s a great character and having him back as soon as possible will be important for the whole team as we continue to grow and move forward together.” 

Somkiat Chantra

 “My recovery is progressing well and I’m happy with how things are going post-surgery. Being able to remove the protection and stitches quite quickly was a positive step, though I still need time before I can ride again. For now, the focus is on calmly continuing my recovery and making sure I’m fully ready before getting back on the bike. I really enjoyed my first time with the Honda HRC team during last November’s Jerez test. From the moment I entered the garage, I felt welcome and the atmosphere immediately felt like a family. Joining a Honda factory team is a big step and a very important project for me, and it meant a lot that the team made me feel relaxed and comfortable right away. From a technical standpoint, I had already ridden the standard CBR1000RR-R for training purposes. Testing the WorldSBK version was a different experience, but the feeling was immediately positive. During the test I focused on learning and understanding the bike step by step, working closely with the team to identify areas where I need to improve - my riding style when braking and shifting for example. Even during this period, I’ve stayed in close contact with the team, with Mori-san and with my crew chief, Sasaki, updating them on my recovery. I’m obviously disappointed not to be able to race at the opening round, but following the doctors’ advice is the right thing to do. I miss the team and am fully focused on doing all I can to return as soon as possible. I’d like to thank everyone at Honda HRC for their support, and I’m really looking forward to returning and contributing to the team’s progress.” 

Yuji Mori - Team Manager

“I was already part of the Honda HRC WorldSBK project, but stepping into the Team Manager role is a very different responsibility. The job goes well beyond the technical side and involves many aspects, from working with a large group of international people to creating the right environment and a shared direction within the team, the development group and the riders. This year, we welcome two strong new riders with well-balanced strengths: Dixon brings race-winning Moto2 experience and high motivation, while Chantra brings MotoGP experience as well as a solid technical background and great consistency. Their passion and commitment can help the team take the next step. Our first objective is to move forward together and achieve solid results, fighting consistently at the front. The ultimate goal is of course victory, and I believe that by working as one team we can keep progressing and reach our targets. Finally, we would like to thank all our sponsors, including long-standing supporters and technical partners Motul, Akrapovič and One Heart – Satu Hati, and we are also pleased to welcome our new partners Yum Yum, Sittipol and EEST. We sincerely appreciate the trust of all our sponsors and look forward to starting this new season together.”

Tom Jojic

“I’m very happy to be working with Jake. Having Moto2 experience myself, I understand very well where he is coming from after spending many years in that paddock. During testing, the focus has been on helping him adapt to Superbike electronics in order to get the best out of the overall package. In terms of bike setup, chassis and riding style, the differences are not extreme: the riding style changes slightly, but the biggest adaptation has to do with managing the higher power and the many electronic systems available. Although it would have been useful to have more fully dry test days before Phillip Island, we’ve definitely made progress since the first test last November and Jake’s confidence is growing. At the same time, it’s important to keep our feet on the ground. I know Jake's coming in as a race winner, but Phillip Island will be his first WorldSBK race weekend, against riders with a lot of experience in this championship. If a strong result comes, that’s great; if it’s more challenging, we continue to build. The main objective is to have a solid weekend and gain valuable experience from Jake’s first WorldSBK appearance.”

Tetsuya Sasaki

“Somkiat is a really nice person and someone who creates a positive and enjoyable team atmosphere. From the very first test, we enjoyed working together and I was impressed by his approach. He started in a very steady way, then built his pace step by step and finished the test with good lap times. Of course, he still needs to adapt to Superbike and to the tyres, but we strongly believe in his technique and his potential for the future. Unfortunately, due to his injury, we were only able to complete one test together last November, but we focused on making the most of the available track time and completed a solid test. During the winter test period, we continued working with Tetsuta Nagashima, collecting valuable data and gaining a clear understanding of the bike’s behaviour, while staying in close contact with Somkiat throughout. For Round 1, we will continue to gather as much information as possible with Nagashima.”