By With the Northwest 200 just around the corner, the Honda Racing UK squad amped up its preparations for the opening roads ‘Major’ of 2024, with all three factory team riders, Dean Harrison, John McGuinness MBE, Nathan Harrison racking up the mileage across Wednesday, Thursday’s BSB, support Championships Oulton Park test event.
Between them, the Harrison’s, McGuinness MBE completed 156 laps combined post circulations on Superstock 1000, Superbike machinery.
26 times TT podium finisher Harrison (Dean) finished an impressive third quickest in terms of Superstock pilots on Thursday.
Prior to this feat on Wednesday, he lapped sub 1 minute 36 seconds, finished a respectable nineteenth fastest on the SBK times sheet.
Speaking after this week’s testing stints, the Bradford rider, who finished again 19th quickest in today’s opening BSB practice session at Oulton, stated:
“It has been great to get some laps on the Stocker and the Superbike over the last two days. I feel reasonably happy with the test to be fair; Oulton is a circuit that I feel much more at home with compared to Navarra.
I do think that there is more to come from both bikes really and after a quick run out on the Stock bike I’m excited to get back on the Superbike this weekend and have a real go.”
His works Honda team-mates, respectively added:
2019 Senior Manx Grand Prix winner Harrison (Nathan):
“It feels great to be back with the team and getting some more track time ahead of the start of the road racing season.
This test was all about getting some mileage under my belt and gaining bike time, I’m not going out chasing a lap time or risking anything, my focus is 100% on getting through the next few weeks fit, healthy and injury-free, and for that reason we’ve decided not to race this weekend.
I’m looking forward to going to the Northwest, I’m putting zero pressure on myself to go and get a result. I want to get five strong finishing positions under my belt and lay the foundations for a strong year of racing on the roads.”
23 times TT victor McGuinness MBE:
“It feels surreal to say that this will be my thirty-fourth season of racing! It feels great to be back at a racetrack with the Honda team and heading into a race weekend once more after a good test.
Our focus in the test was on learning as much as we could about the new bike before we really get going on the roads next week at the Northwest.
Looking to this weekend first though, Oulton is such a unique circuit and a real test for the rider, so I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and having a go.”
Quotes courtesy of Honda Racing UK press team.
Photo courtesy of Honda Racing UK press team.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
