John McGuinness says he is ‘proud’ to enter another year heading up Honda Racing UK’s triple-pronged road racing line-up.
The 23-time TT race winner will be joined by 2019 Senior TT winner Dean Harrison, while Nathan Harrison is retained after having his 2023 TT bid scuppered by injury.
For McGuinness, the first rider to lap in excess of 130mph on the Mountain Course, his continuation with Honda Racing sees him back competing at the Isle of Man TT some 28 years on from making his debut in 1996.
With a revised Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade at his disposal, McGuinness says he is looking forward to a return to action alongside his team-mates.
“I can’t wait to get going again for another year! Honda, Harv and the team have shown such trust and loyalty and it only feels right to continue for another year, I still love putting a helmet on and racing around the track.
“Everyone around me, at Honda, my sponsors and my family are all really happy for me to be here, to be out there flying the flag and I’m proud that I get to continue. I’m still going around and doing 131 [mph] and I’m going to carry on while I have good people, good products and a good team.
“I’m looking forward to working with my new teammates and getting stuck into a testing program with a new Fireblade. It’s always nice to get your teeth into something new, so I’m keen to get stuck in, it’s not often that Honda goes backwards!”
While one Harrison joins, another remains with Nathan keen to make up for lost time after a crash at the North West 200 ruled him out of competing at the TT.
“I couldn’t be happier to remain with Honda for another year. I was over the moon when I signed for the team last year and it was a dream come true, but unfortunately, things just didn't align last year, we had a good start and I was flying at the NW200 before I came off.
“But I always look to draw the positives and try to learn from them and now I have another year to show what I’m capable of. I’ve seen how the team works and I’ve built a really strong working relationship with everyone.
“I know what I have to do and how to try and get the best out of everything. I can’t thank Havier and the team enough for giving me another shot and I can’t wait to get going again.”
