Road Racing: Honda Racing UK announce TT lineup

Nathan Harrison will join John McGuinness in the factory Honda team for this years Isle of Man TT.

After a successful 2022 TT, where Honda would celebrate the Fireblade’s 30^th anniversary, John McGuiness will return. Glenn Irwin who raced for the team last year will be replaced by Manx man Nathan Harrison.

Both McGuinness and Harrison will race in the Superbike and Superstock classes and will also contest the Senior TT.  Both riders will attempt to add to Honda’s impressive win record at the TT.

McGuinness has had great success at the TT with Honda, taking 16 race wins with the Japanese manufacturer. The 50-year-old made his 100^th race start for Honda in 2022, celebrating with a special livery.

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 Havier and Neil

“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 5 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!”

He will be joined by Nathan Harrison, who has spent multiple years racing at the Manx Grand Prix with great success. Harrison would make the jump to the TT and would be on the pace straight away.

Nathan Harrison’s 2022 season was successful, racing the Steam packet Honda Fireblade that finished 10th place at last year’s TT with a fastest lap of 128.087 mph. Harrison would also finish third at the Southern 100 and a top 10 finish at the North West 200.

Harrison added: “Watching the TT as a kid 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.

“2023 is only my second TT, so to be going into it on a great bike, with the best teammate I could ask for, will be an incredible experience. The long-term plan is to learn from John, learn from the team, and use all that experience to help my own progression. We can make small steps on from last year and, hopefully, this will help me get on that top step in the years to come.”

Team manager, Havier Beltran, concluded: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Nathan to the team. He had a remarkable breakthrough year in 2022 and he’s impressed me with the attitude that he has toward his racing. It will be great for him to learn from John and utilise all of his experience and expertise to build step by step.”

“I’m also extremely pleased that we have been able to retain John’s services for another year. Welcoming him back into the fold in 2022 was fantastic and to witness John celebrating 100 TT starts and to be a part of that history was brilliant for everyone involved.

“Continuing that relationship for another season and building on last year shows Honda’s commitment to international Road Racing. I’m excited to see what we can all achieve together in 2023.”

Image: IOM TT Races