\n\tWith the departure of their rider pair this offseason after four positive seasons with the team, Honda HRC stood at an important crossroads in their MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship story. Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) and Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had ridden very well for the team as the team worked tirelessly to take steps forward with their Honda CBR1000RR-R SP. A big pair of signings would be needed to fill such big shoes left in the garage. Honda HRC did just that in their marquee signings of Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) and his teammate Somkiat Chantra.<\/p>\n
\n\tTHE WHOLE BOX BEHIND THEM: \u201cHaving such a strong and experienced crew around me makes a huge difference\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tDixon burst onto the British Superbike championship in 2016, finishing that season before climbing to sixth in 2017 \u2013 when he also made his WorldSBK debut as a wildcard at Donington. 2018 was another leap forward, landing runner-up in 2018 via his three wins, 16 podiums and four poles. From there, he joined Moto2. His first three seasons were more troublesome than the clear progression he enjoyed previously, but in 2022, with his move to a new team, he took sixth place with six podiums. In the three seasons since then, the lowest he\u2019s fallen in that Championship\u2019s results has been 8th place, but now a new challenge awaits him in WorldSBK. He has had limited time atop his new Honda CBR1000RR-R but is looking to attack 2026 with plenty of enthusiasm, where he\u2019ll be guided from the box by his crew chief, Tom Jojic.<\/p>\n
\n\tOn his new opportunity, Dixon said: \u201cIt\u2019s an incredible feeling to be a factory Honda HRC rider and to represent Honda in WorldSBK. Being part of this project is something I\u2019ve always dreamed of and I\u2019m genuinely excited to get started and begin this new chapter. 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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. As for the CBR1000RR-R SP, it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tGETTING UP TO SPEED: \u201cI focused on learning the bike step by step to identify where I need to improve – my riding style when braking and shifting, for example\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tChantra\u2019s story began in earnest when his three wins and five podiums clinched him the 2016 Asia Talent Cup, culminating in his move to the Moto3 European Championship. He competed in Moto2 for six seasons, showing a positive trajectory after landing 21st and 25th in his first two seasons from 2019 to 2020. From 2022 to 2024, he improved his results to take 10th, 6th, and 12th. While 2023 was his best finish in the Championship, 2022 was his best in terms of personal results as he landed four podiums and his first Moto2 win at the Indonesian GP, and later nearly sent the home fans into delirium as his first pole position nearly helped him to a win at his home GP until a crash sent him back to the boxes early. 2025 brought with it a jump up to the MotoGP paddock with the Idemitsu Honda LCR squad, and after a challenging rookie season, he moves to embark on a new journey in WorldSBK with crew chief Tetsuya Sasaki.<\/p>\n