Honda has announced that Yuki Kunii will once again replace Jake Dixon in its factory WorldSBK team at the Czech Round on 17–19 May.
Dixon will remain absent from the team he joined at the end of last year thanks to the wrist injuries he picked up in testing at Phillip Island in February.
The British rider was replaced by Yuki Kunii for the first time at Balaton Park on 2–4 May after Jonathan Rea stood in for him at the Portimao and Assen WorldSBK rounds. Kunii will return to Dixon’s side of the box at the next round in Czechia next weekend as a result of Dixon’s continued absence.
“Japanese rider Yuki Kunii, who stood in for Honda HRC rider Jake Dixon at the latest round in Hungary, will again serve as substitute during the upcoming Czech round at Autodrom Most (15-17 May),” reads a HRC statement confirming Dixon’s absence and Kunii’s presence at Most.
“Dixon continues to work hard on his recovery programme following injury sustained earlier this season.
“While the healing process is progressing well, the British rider is not yet ready to return to action and will therefore sit out the Most round as he focuses on returning to full fitness.”
The WorldSBK season moves on to Aragon after Most, with the race at MotorLand slated for 29–31 May. That will be Dixon’s next chance to make his debut in the championship and for Honda. There will be another two-week break after Aragon before the Misano round, and four weeks then separate the Misano race from Dixon’s home round at Donington on 10–12 July.
