After coming to within a point of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship title this year, 2023 champion Tommy Bridewell will return with Honda Racing UK next season, alongside a familiar line-up campaigning for the manufacturer throughout the new season in British Championship racing.
Bridewell continues for a second year determined to go one better next season and become a two-time Bennetts BSB champion. His remarkable 2024 campaign was punctuated with three wins and a further sixteen podiums en route to second in the overall standings, just a single point away from consecutive titles for different manufacturers.
Joining him aboard a Honda Racing UK Fireblade once more is Northern Irishman Andrew Irwin, who is set to embark on his fifth season with the team (2019-2020, 2023 - 2025). A previous winner aboard Honda machinery, he made a return to the podium this year and targets more in 2025.
Dean Harrison will continue in the 2025 Quattro Group British Supersport Championship, also completing for Honda Racing UK in the major international road races onboard the CBR600RR.
Fresh from his 2024 British Supersport Championship triumph, Jack Kennedy is confirmed as a Honda Racing UK rider in 2025 with a decision pending on the championship in which he will race. He is set to test 2025 Supersport and Superbike machinery at the end of November before an informed decision on his future, with an announcement to be made in due course.
Bridewell said: “I am incredibly excited to continue with Honda for another season. In our first year together we achieved a huge amount of success and proved so many people wrong, especially after spending five years with another manufacturer and starting the year with a brand-new package for the team and I.
“Ultimately, we finished second in the championship by a single point, but the difference in the level of the package from round one compared to round eleven was huge. We’ve had our learning year if you like, and now it’s time to put in place all of the things we’ve learnt and deliver on that potential. Our target is the same, to win the championship and become a two-times BSB champion.”
Irwin said: “I can’t wait to get started in 2025, I am really thankful to Harv and Neil Fletcher for giving me this opportunity to continue into my third consecutive year with the team. It’s time for me to show them why I am here in the team and repay the faith they have shown in me. The Fireblade development, particularly towards the end of the year came on massively and the package is now very competitive. We always have a really good off-season and we have lots of testing planned so I can't wait to get going and I’m really excited for the year ahead.”
Kennedy said: “I feel in a really unique position following the fantastic year that we have had, as I have the opportunity to carry out a private test before making an informed decision on what I want to do next year. It’s not often you get the chance to test ride the bike before you commit to racing it the following season!
"The team are making this possible and we worked so well together this year so thank you to them. Remaining as a Honda Racing UK rider was absolutely the priority and I am excited to test before making my final decision on the 2025 season ahead.”
Harrison added: “I am genuinely really excited to go again next year having learnt all of the lessons we learnt this year on the roads and the short circuits. I enjoy riding the CBR600RR so much so to continue in Supersport is really positive, we showed some really good pace on that bike so I want to continue building on that good form. I also get to work with the same crew as this year across all of my racing next season, which helps a lot with consistency. You see how hard they work and it’s such a motivator for me. We have a year of development under our belt with all of the bikes and I am looking forward to getting on with the job and trying to win.”
Team Manager Havier Beltran commented: “2024 represented a fundamental shift for Honda as we returned to the fight at the front and showcased our true racing potential, celebrating hard earnt success. Tommy performed exceptionally in his first year with us and whilst he ultimately came second in the championship, he showcased exactly why he is a British champion with his remarkable consistency and dogged determination. There is absolutely no reason why he cannot fight again to become a champion for Honda in 2025.
“Andrew stepped back onto the podium in 2024 and his return to front-running form has been great to witness, his speed and potential has always been there and I am confident with a positive off-season he can hit the ground running in the spring.
“Dean’s performance on two brand-new motorcycles this year on the roads was hugely impressive and the podiums he achieved were a just reward for the dedication he displayed. I am also confident that a switch to Supersport will enable Dean to build on the front running pace he showcased towards the latter end of the 24 season.
“Jack’s 2024 season was nothing short of remarkable and his performances on the 600 warrant serious consideration as to his future. As such, we have decided to complete a private test on both Superbike and Supersport machinery before making an informed decision on his future. This gives Jack and us the best opportunity to confirm our plans.”
Neil Fletcher, Head of Motorcycles, Honda UK, concluded: “It is with enormous excitement that I look forward to 2025 and our commitment to racing across multiple championships on the short circuits and racing on the roads. This season Honda demonstrated our competitiveness by achieving success across the board, a championship victory in Supersport, race wins and podiums in Superbike and multiple podiums across each category we raced on the roads.
“Retaining the services of each of the riders that contributed to this success was paramount when confirming our 2025 plans, and now with year one of our development cycle complete of these models, we have all of the ingredients for an even better 2025.”