Honda UK road racing team announced for TT and NW200
Honda’s UK racing division was hot out of the blocks straight after New Year, announcing its international road racing rider line-up for 2023. The big H has signed up John McGuinness again to race on the CBR1000 RR Fireblade – and he’ll be joined by
Manxman Nathan Harrison. Both riders are confirmed for the 2023 TT and NW200 events, but the bikes and livery haven’t been released yet.
Both riders are, of course, very excited about the upcoming season. John McGuinness said:
“Riding a Fireblade again at the TT last year was something special so it only felt right to continue for another year. I couldn’t feel more at home with the Honda team so I need to say a massive thank you to Harv (Beltran) and Neil (Fletcher). Celebrating 100 TT starts with the team and riding with that one-off livery and all of the history that we have was really something else. We also managed to crack the top five last year on the Superbike, which was great, but I’m hungry for more. I just want to get started now and go racing again!”
Nathan Harrison, who finished his first Senior TT last year in 10th place was even more enthused. “To race alongside John and to ride in the Honda Racing UK team has always been a dream of mine. Coming from a Manx family that has always been involved in motorcycling, the TT has always been in my blood. Watching the TT as a child with John and Honda dominating, it made me want to be the next ‘John McGuinness’ and that was my full focus. I can’t thank Havier and Honda Racing UK enough for the opportunity.
“It’s only my second ever TT, so to be going into it on a great bike, with the best teammate I could ask for, will be an incredible experience. Hopefully, the long-term plan of where John can teach me things I may not know, learning from the team with the experience they have on the Fireblade and then my own progression, we can make small steps on last year to hopefully get me to that top step in the years to come.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my Mum and Dad for all their support and sacrifice over the years, my sponsors and supporters for sticking by me and helping me get to the position where I have been given this fantastic opportunity.”