BSB: Hawk Racing confirm new partnership with Honda

Hawk Racing has switched to Honda machinery for the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season.

The new deal brings an end to a six-season partnership with Suzuki, and also means that the Mallory Park-based squad becomes an independent team once more. Suzuki pulled out of MotoGP at the end of 2022, whilst they’ll no longer run a factory team in the Endurance World Championship.

• You can read an exclusive interview with Steve Hicken in the new issue of Motorcycle News.

Hawk Racing’s riders, Charlie Nesbitt and Josh Owens, will race onboard Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SPs this season. Nesbitt raced for the team in the Superstock class last season, whilst Owens switches from Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki.

Both riders are former British GP2 Champions, whilst Owens won the 2015 British 125cc title, and Nesbitt clinched the 2016 British Moto3 crown.

Last season Glenn Irwin won five races onboard the current generation Fireblade, and finished second in the championship. This model was first introduced in 2020, with Glenn and Andrew Irwin both victorious that year.

“We know it’s going to be a highly competitive series once again but the fact a Honda finished second overall last season highlights the bike’s potential, Team Manager Steve Hicken said.

“With two very talented young riders in Charlie and Josh on board, together with our knowhow and experience behind the scenes, we think it’ll be a competitive package.”

Meanwhile, Nesbitt and Owens will run different liveries due to the team’s new sponsorship partnerships with MasterMac Surfacing and Crendon Timber Engineering. Nesbitt’s side of the garage will be known as MasterMac by Hawk Racing Honda, whilst Owens’ side will be named Crendon by Hawk Racing Honda.

“I would like to thank MasterMac and Crendon for supporting us to compete in Bennetts BSB for what will be our 25th year in racing,” Hicken continued.

“It’s a tough financial climate for just about everyone at the moment so we’re particularly delighted and grateful that they’ve both joined the Hawk Racing family as our title sponsors, represented by two new liveries.”

The official pre-season testing programme begins at Navarra, Spain on March 11-13. This is followed by two days at Donington Park (March 25-26) and Silverstone (March 28-29). The opening round takes place at Silverstone on April 7-9.

You can read an exclusive interview with Steve Hicken in the new issue of Motorcycle News.