As the 2023 season quickly gathers steam, Honda’s involvement on the roads and in the highly competitive Bennetts British Superbike Championship paddock has swelled with remarkable success.
Just four seasons ago in 2019, lining up on the BSB grid were two solitary Honda Fireblades, both of which were run by the factory owned Honda Racing UK team. Today, in the premiere class of the series, there are no fewer than seven Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SPs, a remarkable 25% of the total grid.
Furthermore, in the Pirelli National Superstock championship, a racing class closely aligned to the specifications of the road going model, there are 24 entries who have chosen the Fireblade as their racing steed. Reinforcing Honda’s commitment to two wheeled racing, but also reaffirming the competitiveness of the latest iteration of the famous model.
Strength in numbers can also easily be identified in the increased presence of Honda mounted riders on the start line of the Isle of Man TT Races. In 2022, the first year that the latest model Fireblade raced the famous mountain course just 3 of the top 20 starters in the Superbike and Senior TT races were on a Honda. This year 11 riders, over 50% of the top 20 starters, will line up at the start line on a Honda.
Honda’s successful model is not just represented in the number of teams and riders choosing to race the motorcycle, but also in its racing achievements. The latest model Fireblade has secured 10 race victories and a further 13 podiums since its introduction to British Superbike Championship racing in 2020, with a highest championship finish of second in 2022.
It has also secured back-to-back Superstock 1000 championship wins with riders Tom Neave and Davey Todd respectively and has achieved 23 wins and 31 podiums since entering the championship in 2020.
At the first two rounds of the Superstock championship this year at Silverstone and Oulton Park, the Honda Fireblade achieved a podium lockout in all of the races with five different riders and teams.
Proof indeed that the Honda Fireblade is indeed born to race.
