BSB: 2023 Honda Racing UK livery unveiled

Honda Racing UK has revealed its new livery for it 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship and International Road Racing campaigns.

Following last season’s 30^th Anniversary design, which was primarily white, the team now returns to a more traditional livery.

Designed to mimic the road going production Fireblade and World Superbike Championship liveries, the 2023 scheme is mainly red with dashes of blue and white, and is given an extra visual boost with a gloss finish.

“2023 is going to be an exciting season for the team as we have a mixture of new and old faces returning to the team,” team boss Havier Beltran said. “We are also now into the third year of development with the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, and we’ll look to continue building on the success that we have experienced to date.

“Continuing our relationship with all our valued sponsors enables us to resume this journey. We look forward to getting the season underway and working together as a team to realise the potential of the Fireblade on the roads and in BSB”

The team will be represented by the returning Andrew Irwin in BSB this season. The Northern Irishman was victorious on this model of Fireblade during its first season in 2020, but has spent the last two seasons with SYNETIQ BMW. You can find an exclusive interview with Irwin in this week’s issue of MCN.

Meanwhile, Tom Neave keeps his seat at Honda ahead of his sophomore BSB campaign. Neave endured a tough maiden season in 2022 but, as you’ll be able to read more about in an upcoming issue of MCN, has already outlined what he needs to improve on in order to move higher up the grid.

Alongside private tests in Spain, the Honda riders will be at the three-day official test at Navarra on March 11-13. Two more tests will take place at Donington Park (March 25-25) and Silverstone (March 28-29), whilst the new season gets underway at Silverstone on

23-time Isle of Man TT race winner John McGuinness MBE and Nathan Harrison have both signed with the team for its roads programme.

Neil Fletcher, Head of Motorcycles at Honda UK, added:  “We are delighted to release our new racing livery for the 2023 season as we aim to continue competing for the positions that we know the Fireblade is capable of. It is also fantastic to renew our relationships with our trusted sponsors who continue to support us in our racing endeavours in British Superbikes and on the roads.

“We have a busy testing program ahead of us before the season gets underway in April and then the racing will come thick and fast. I’m excited to see how the Fireblade performs with another year of development under its belt.”

For those wanting to see the latest livery in the flesh for the first time, the race bike will be on display at Youles Motorcycles Honda Manchester as part of their dealership open evening on theFebruary 22. McGuinness will also be in attendance.

You can find an exclusive interview with Irwin in this week’s issue of MCN