By The factory Honda Racing UK team left their first official testing stint of 2026, in Monteblanco, Spain, firmly upbeat.
Switching this year to the National Superstock 1000 Championship, post BSB, British Supersport endeavours in 2024 and 2025, five times TT winner Dean Harrison sounded happy overall, when reflecting on recent test session tenures.
“I changed software and hardware and feel like we made positive changes every time. I’m particularly happy with the connection I have with the throttle and the transition to being deep on the brakes.
I know the other riders have said the same thing and I don’t want it to sound repetitive, but the team I have around me is good.
This is the kind of thing that road racing fans might not think about when they see me flat out through Station corner or coming out of the Creg, but it’s crucial.
With a good team around me I can focus on delivering the results we all want.”
Teammate for the third successive international roads season, John McGuinness MBE, echoed Harrison’s chipper nature.
“This is my second time at Monteblanco following a few days out here spinning laps with Dean and some mates earlier this year.
There are some new members of the team here to gel with and that’s started well.
We’re all singing from the same song sheet which feels good considering it’s so early in the season. The bike doesn’t ride itself, but experience tells me that when my crew is smiling, I’ll be smiling too.”
McGuinness MBE, Harrison’s opening pure road racing tilt, beckons in just past six weeks’ time at roads scene ‘Major’ the Briggs Equipment Northwest 200.
Quotes courtesy of Honda Racing UK press team.
Photo courtesy of Honda Racing UK press team.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
