WorldSBK, Jonathan Rea will try again at Assen: Honda really needs him

Honda confirms that Rea will line up alongside Chantra for the SBK round at Assen as well: the likely date of Dixon’s return has also been announced.

Jonathan Rea’s return to racing in the Superbike World Championship was not particularly brilliant, but there are mitigating factors. The six-time world champion is not yet at 100% physically and is riding a Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP that is certainly not a very competitive bike. He has only recently become involved in the HRC project and needs time to leave his mark. In Portimao he tried to give precise guidance to the engineers for development and will continue to do so at Assen.

This morning it was officially confirmed that Rea will also be in action at the WorldSBK round to be held at the TT Circuit on the weekend of April 17–19. As for Dixon, the goal is to return to racing on the Balaton Park race weekend (April 1–3). Of course, he will need medical clearance to get back on his Honda CBR1000RR-R. His recovery is progressing well and there is considerable confidence about a return in Hungary.

The HRC team has not started the 2026 Superbike season well, as both full-time riders have suffered injuries. Chantra even before the winter tests, which he then missed, as well as the first round at Phillip Island. It was in Australia, on the last day of pre-season testing, that Dixon also got hurt.

It’s clear that Rea can’t work miracles with a bike he doesn’t know well while also not being in peak physical condition. Moreover, he is currently focused primarily on contributing to development by giving feedback to the technicians; he does not have the pressure of having to achieve specific race results.

Considering that Chantra and Dixon are rookies in World Superbike and need time to adapt to many new things, the role of the six-time world champion becomes fundamental in the bike’s growth process. Honda needs him and his experience. Perhaps it wasn’t a great idea to bet on factory riders in their first year of WorldSBK—something that already happened with Lecuona and Vierge in the past—but only time will provide clear answers. In the meantime, Rea is trying to do his part, convinced there is significant potential to be extracted from the CBR.