Honda HRC reveal livery ahead of testing getting underway at P.I.

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Honda HRC WorldSBK 2026

Honda HRC have unveiled their 2026 livery ahead of the opening round of the Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend.

The new season marks a clear reset for the factory squad, with an all-new rider pairing of Jake Dixon and Somkiat Chantra aboard the CBR1000RR-R.

For Dixon, Phillip Island will be his first WorldSBK race weekend. The Brit has worked through a disrupted winter test programme, with weather limiting track time at several outings, but he has steadily built mileage and familiarity with the Fireblade alongside crew chief Tom Jojic. Australia will provide the first real benchmark of where that progress stands.

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. The first round is at Phillip Island. It’s a fantastic track, and it will be great to go there at the beginning of the year, when the weather is warm. I’m really looking forward to it. 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.”

Chantra, however, will not line up for the season opener. The Thai rider is continuing his recovery from a right arm training injury. His stitches and cast have now been removed, and he has begun physiotherapy, but he has not yet been cleared to race.

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.”

Test rider Tetsuta Nagashima, who already substituted for Chantra during the final winter tests, will step in again for the Phillip Island round.

There is also a change on the management side. Yuji Mori takes over as Team Manager for 2026, having previously worked within the Honda HRC WorldSBK structure in a technical capacity. His broader experience includes factory programmes in MotoGP and the Suzuka 8 Hours, providing continuity rather than a complete overhaul behind the scenes.

Yuji Mori – Team Manager Honda HRC

“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 – Race Engineer for Jake Dixon

“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 – Race Engineer for Somkiat Chantra

“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.”

The final two days of official pre-season testing take place at Phillip Island on February 16–17, just days before the lights go out for the first time in 2026. With a new rider line-up and revised structure in place, the Australian round will be the first real indication of how quickly Honda HRC can translate winter development into results.

Honda HRC WorldSBK Livery Images

2026 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship calendar


……Date…….	Country	Circuit	WorldSBK	WorldSSP	WorldSPB
20-22 Feb	AUS	Phillip Island GP	X	X
27-29 Mar	POR	Algarve Int’l	X	X	X
17-19 Apr	NED	TT Assen	X	X	X
1-3 May	HUN	Balaton Park	X	X
15-17 May	CZE	Most	X	X	X
29-31 May	ESP	MotorLand Aragon	X	X	X
12-14 Jun	ITA	Misano – Marco Simoncelli	X	X	X
10-12 Jul	UK	Donington Park	X	X
4-6 Sep	FRA	Nevers Magny-Cours	X	X	X
25-27 Sep	ITA	Cremona	X	X	X
9-11 Oct	POR	Estoril	X	X
16-18 Oct	ESP	Jerez – Angel Nieto*	X	X	X

2026 World Superbike Championship Entry List


Rider	Bike	Team
I.Lecuona	Duc	Aruba.It Ducati
N.Bulega	Duc	Aruba.It Ducati
D.Petrucci	BMW	ROKiT BMW Motorrad
M.Oliveira	BMW	ROKiT BMW Motorrad
A.Locatelli	Yam	Pata Maxus Yamaha
X.Vierge	Yam	Pata Maxus Yamaha
Y.Montella	Duc	Barni Spark
A.Bautista	Duc	Barni Spark
A.Lowes	Bim	bimota by Kawasaki
A.Bassani	Bim	bimota by Kawasaki
S.Chantra	Hon	Honda HRC
J.Dixon	Hon	Honda HRC
S.Manzi	Yam	GYTR GRT Yamaha
R.Gardner	Yam	GYTR GRT Yamaha
S.Lowes	Duc	ELF Marc VDS
L.Baldassarri	Duc	Goeleven
T.Mackenzie	Duc	MGM Racing
G.Gerloff	Kaw	Kawasaki WorldSBK
A.Surra	Duc	Motocorsa
M.Rato	Yam	Motoxracing
B.Sofuoglu	Yam	Motoxracing
A.Iannone	Duc	Cainam Racing