Honda Racing revved up to return to fast and furious Thruxton
This weekend (30 July – 1 August) the Bennetts British Superbike Championship returns to the fastest circuit on the calendar Thruxton, where Honda Racing UK is looking to repeat the success they enjoyed last time at the venue.
On Friday when track action gets underway it will have been 726 days since race day in 2019 and with the Race 1 win clear in their minds with the previous Fireblade, the Honda Racing UK team is looking forward to seeing how the new race-winning CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP will fare at the 2.35-mile circuit.
For Honda’s Superbike contenders, the different circuit layout will be welcomed by Glenn Irwin, Ryo Mizuno and Takumi Takahashi. With the first three rounds of 2021 taking place at notoriously difficult circuits in terms of their physical nature, Thruxton in comparison is fast and flowing, but tyre wear can catch riders and teams out.
Glenn will be looking to work through and correct the chatter issues that have plagued him early this season, but with all race teams using a harder Pirelli tyre due to the abrasive track surface, the Honda team are confident that progress can be made.
BSB rookies Ryo and Takumi will get their first-ever experience of the Hampshire circuit when they roll out for first practice and with both riders recovering from small injuries, they will be thankful for the less physical track layout, as well as looking forward to learning another new circuit.
Tom Neave will be looking to add to his points tally, where in the Pirelli National Superstock Championship he’s currently sitting eighth, 41 points behind current leader Billy McConnell.
Superbike first practice gets underway at 1pm on Friday 30 July, with Race 1 on Saturday and Race 2 and Race 3 on Sunday, click here for the full timetable.
Glenn Irwin
I am probably not the only one looking forward to getting back to Thruxton after not racing there last year. It’s the fastest circuit on the UK calendar, and it’s a unique circuit to ride. It’s somewhere I’ve been fast at in the past and I scored my first podium there, but I do need to improve to be able to get a little more out of the tyre across race distance. There’s lots of positives and I am aware I do need to improve a bit more on the tyre. I am looking forward to it, the team have been working really hard since Brands with some different things to try which I am excited about. You never really know where you’ll be at Thruxton, but I’m looking forward to getting back there and continuing our quest for the Showdown.
Ryo Mizuno
I've only seen onboard footage and data from Thruxton, but my current impression is that it looks familiar. Overall, it's a circuit I'm looking forward to because of the high speed and the lack of elevation changes. It's been a tough three rounds so far, but I'm really feeling the high level of competition, so I'm looking forward to working with team again this weekend!
Takumi Takahashi
My shoulder is getting better, it’s not perfect, but now at Round 4 I want to race properly. Right now, the only way for us to learn circuits is from onboards and videos, so we watch a lot to get prepared, before walking the track when we arrive. I don’t know the track condition completely, but Thruxton seems to have no ups/downs as far as I can see on the videos, so I think with it being a fast circuit I will like it.
Tom Neave
I’d say Thruxton is the track I look forward to the most out of all the UK circuits, and having missed it last year, I think it’s just added to the excitement coming into the weekend. We’ve not been there with the new Fireblade so I’m going into this round with an open mind, but I’m confident that it will work really well around that style of circuit. Thruxton is so fast, and it’s all about carrying momentum which I think lends itself to the Fireblade. It always makes for amazing racing, with lots of tyre spinning, which I love to do! I’m looking forward to getting going tomorrow and seeing where the weekend takes us.