This new deal is only the start
Standby for a bigger presence in racing
Honda hope that the new deal with TAG Racing will be the launch pad for more Fireblades to appear on the grid in the coming years. Historically, alongside the factory team, there were several private teams running at the front on Honda machinery, including Shaun Muir’s Hydrex/Swan Honda and Paul Bird Motorsport. Recently, as rival manufacturers released newer models, only the factory Honda team had a presence.
Now, armed with the all-new Fireblade, which made an instant impact this year, it looks like we’re about to see a shift back to the old days – with TAG Racing being the first customer Honda team of the new decade and new Blade era.
It sounds simple, but there are some hurdles to jump as a result of the ongoing Covid-19.
“From our point of view at Honda – wanting more of our bikes on the grid – 100% that’s what we want to do,” Honda Racing UK boss Havier Beltran said. “It’s difficult though. The TT being cancelled is a real shame for everybody, but there were also plenty of riders that were waiting for next year’s TT and were going to buy Hondas for it.
“On the roads, as and when it gets back to some normality, there will be more and more Hondas taking part, which will then drift back into BSB and so on.”
The relationship with TAG Racing will be a close one and Honda will be able to assist and share data on the parts that both sides use to build their machines. “Whenever I organise a test myself, they will always be invited along to join us,” Beltran added.
“That’s just another way to show them that our arms are open, come and be on track at the same time as us and try to learn, develop and move forwards together.”
‘More Hondas on the grid is 100% what we want’