By Winning any TT race, requires hundreds of aspects (some-visible, some not-so, some hard to fathom) aligning, if one, even what seems minor aspect does not hold together, then it’s mission not accomplished.
Even the biggest teams need everything to align, take Honda Racing UK.
The factory Honda team, in its HM Plant Honda, Honda TT Legends guises had persistent success since the mid 2000’s up to the mid 2010’s, mostly with seven times Senior race winner, John McGuinness MBE.
When the Morecambe international road racing legend, regained the Senior race title in 2015, few at-the time would not have thought, it would take ten years for TT success to return to the works Honda squad.
Technical gremlins with the post 2016 Fireblade version, rider signings that did not work out for one reason or another, BMW’s S1000RR/M1000RR models dominating were just some of the prime factors, behind the victory drought.
Although NW200 success was back and in spades in 2022 with Glenn Irwin, TT glory remained absent for 2022, 2023 and 2024, despite signing TT ‘Alien’ Dean Harrison.
Entering TT 2025, there was a positive, quietly confident streak about the Honda UK team, given Dean Harrison’s near victory pursuits throughout the Briggs Equipment Northwest 200.
The confidence levels increased further when Harrison set the fastest ever lap, from an opening TT qualifying session (Wednesday, 28th May – 133.069 mph).
The 2019 Senior race victor, continued to show proficient, world class pace per 1000cc, Supersport classes in remaining qualifying sessions and went into race week, ready to fight for elite results.
Reduced to four-laps, the RST x D3O Superbike race, proved a bit of a disappointment for Harrison, given his qualifying week turn of pace, finishing third over forty-four seconds behind race winner Davey Todd.
Fast forward to the Royal London 360 Superstock encounter, trimmed to just two laps and post-race reactions were very different.
Pre-race, Glenn Irwin had tipped the Bradford rider to be victorious. In reporting mode, I was listening in thinking, Glenn could be right here, this could be Dean, Honda’s time to shine.
What went onto unfold was the works Honda team’s finest hour to date, of this TT racing decade as Harrison claimed TT success No.4 in scintillating fashion, pulling away from Davey Todd, winning by 11.657 seconds, setting on the last lap, the quickest lap speed/lap time of TT 2025 (135.692 mph – 16 minutes 40.999 seconds).
You only had to watch the post-race pandemonium, to sense what it meant to both rider and team, the joy, relief, stress of ten years of no TT wins, gone from the Honda UK team.
Harrison would go onto make it back-to-back Superstock victories, following a textbook ride to P1 in the second Opul title backed, stock 1000 contest.
After the race amidst a backdrop of fans shouting ‘Deano’, ‘Deano’, the ‘Bradford Bullet’ ebulliently stated:
“Got five wins now which is nice. But over the moon, shame Davey had an issue stop, starting in the pits, it obviously benefited me massively, but we had the pace from the start I feel.
So, we were always in with a chance, and I was going to take the fight to him because he’s normally the man to beat on the Superstock bike, but saying that we good the double this week, so I’m not complaining.”
“First time I’ve done a double which is unbelievable, feel quite good now, looking forward to finishing the race tomorrow, having a few jars with the boys I think!”
Whilst the Milwaukee Senior race did not unfold, due to high winds, nothing could take away from Harrison/Honda Racing UK’s tumultuous TT 2025 campaign.
As I stated at the beginning of this article, hundreds of aspects must align, to triumph within a TT affiliated race.
In Harrison/Honda Racing UK’s case, there was a superb blend of a rider nearing his peak Mountain Course form, a team believing they could win again on IOM shores, machinery finding optimum performance at the right time.
Add in other factors like main competitors, perhaps not having the most faultless tackle allied to a determination to prove people wrong, prove we belong amongst the TT’s top inner racing circle, and you get what’s unfolded within TT 2025 – mission accomplished.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
