Honda splashes the colour to launch its 2021 BSB triple title threat

Honda Racing has formally launched its 2021 British Superbike Championship campaign with the unveiling of its latest Honda CBR1000RR-R BSB challenger, complemented by a refreshed and expanded three-strong rider line-up.

The Japanese manufacturer bounced back to the sharp end of the field in 2020 with the launch of the latest generation Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, with victories out of the box between brother pairing Andrew and Glenn Irwin ending a prolonged lean spell.

Though Honda’s hopes for a title tilt faded towards the end of the truncated 2020 BSB season, it is hoping a revised rider line-up and a lengthy development lead time towards the 2021 campaign will see the Fireblade prove the bike to beat.

It will certainly stand out more on the grid with Honda ditching the erstwhile ‘stealthy’ all-black appearance of 2020 for the more familiar glossy red, blue and white corporate colours that reflect the flagship ‘SP’ trim the BSB entry is based on, not to mention the factory HRC WorldSBK entry.

Leading the three-way rider line-up is Glenn Irwin, who retains his seat after sustaining a title challenge to the season finale, eventually ending the year fourth overall with onbe win.

Making their respective BSB debuts alongside him will be a pair of Honda proteges from Japan, Takumi Takahashi and Ryo Mizuno.

In a move reminiscent of Honda’s decision to introduce Ryuichi Kiyonari to a BSB championship he’d go on to win three times, Takahashi won the 2017 All-Japan Superbike Championship and last year competed in the WorldSBK Championship, albeit with minimal success. 

Mizuno, at only 22 years old, is Honda’s fresh domestic Superbike hope who has been given this break in BSB to ramp up his development on a more competitive stage.

The 2021 BSB Championship will run to 33 races over 11 triple-header race weekend events, beginning on June 26/27 at Oulton Park.