Dixon and Chantra on track for their first test with the Honda HRC team in WorldSBK

The Honda HRC team began its first step in the preparation path towards the 2026 WorldSBK season with factory riders Jake Dixon and Somkiat Chantra at the Jerez Circuit in Spain.

In cold but sunny conditions at the Andalusian track, Dixon and Chantra had their first opportunity to ride the CBR1000RR-R. The test allowed them to settle into the Honda HRC garage, get to know their crew chiefs and respective teams, and familiarise themselves with the squad’s working methods. Dixon worked with his crew chief Tom Jojic, while Chantra joined forces with his crew chief Tetsuya Sasaki, all operating under the direction of Team Manager Yuji Mori. Honda HRC test rider Tetsuta Nagashima also took part in the session.

Both Dixon and Chantra completed over a hundred laps each across the two days, including some long runs, beginning to build confidence with their respective machines and crews. This was the main target of the test and allowed the riders to provide their initial feedback to the engineers, focusing mainly on ergonomics, electronics, general setup and riding confidence.

Following the winter break, the next test to continue preparations for the 2026 season is scheduled for 21–22 January at the same Jerez track.

Somkiat Chantra – #35

“It was very nice for me to take part in this first test with the Honda HRC team. We worked on many things together, and I also focused on myself, trying to learn the bike and understand the tyres. We completed many laps to understand everything step by step, and each day we were able to improve, which made me really happy because everything we tried brought something positive. My main goal now is to do more laps and build my feeling with the CBR, especially under braking and when stopping the bike, which is still a bit difficult for me at the moment, but with more time I’m sure the confidence will come. The GP bike and the CBR1000RR-R are very different, but in this test we already tried to work with the power in a way that feels a bit more similar to what I was used to, and today it went in a good direction. We just need more time to continue working, and overall I’m very happy with the test and with the support from the team.”

Jake Dixon – #96

“It has been a really good first test for me as a Honda HRC rider. It feels great to be back on a big bike again and having that power is really nice, but it’s also a massive learning curve. I had a couple of crashes while trying to understand everything and figure out exactly how things work, which sometimes just happens. Even so, I couldn’t be happier with the team – they are fantastic, incredibly professional, and it’s the first time I’ve had so many people working around me, which is really nice. I’m just going to need some time to adapt. This bike demands respect, and I’m learning every minute because if you don’t respect her, she bites. Still, it has been a great two days: I completed a lot of laps, including long runs, and we worked a lot with the hardest tyre. I didn’t try a qualifying tyre; we stuck with the hard option, and that’s how we ended the test. Coming from Moto2, adapting to a WorldSBK machine is honestly crazy different, especially with how much you can change on the electronics compared to what we have in Moto2. I need more time to learn how to extract that one fast lap, but in terms of rhythm I’m not too bad. I’m looking forward to continuing this journey and progressing as a World Superbike rider.”