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Next year is going to be an interesting season for Honda in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. It will be their seventh year in the class since their full-factory return to the series. Over the course of the last 233 WorldSBK races can anyone give a definitive answer on where Big Red actually sits in the paddock? Is the Honda CBR1000 RR-R good enough? Is the team good enough? Are the riders good enough? Just about the only thing that has been clear is that budget isn’t an issue.

THE CURRENT LINE-UP: both riders to face new challenges in 2026

In 2026 we’ll start to get some answers to the biggest questions. Every Championship revolves around the leading riders. For Honda their rider line-up is clearly talented but is it good enough? After four years we still can’t say for sure if Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge are good enough. Both have shown flashes, and many believe that Lecuona has some potential and speed. Vierge is consistent, as shown by his performance as the leading Honda rider since he came to the series, but he isn’t quite elite. Both are very solid riders but it’s a leap of faith to believe in them.

LECUONA’S FUTURE SECURED: factory Ducati for the #7, Vierge’s 2026 plans unknown

We will get a definitive answer on both next year. Iker Lecuona will have no hiding place on the Aruba.it Ducati. We will know his level very quickly next year and he needs to win races and challenge Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati). Vierge is a solid number two rider. He has shown more than enough to make you believe that he would be a solid foil to another title contender. If he lines up on the grid next year, he could be a potential replacement for Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) at Yamaha. It looks increasingly likely that Can Oncu will remain in WorldSSP next year and Vierge would be an intriguing prospect on that bike. His other option will be to bring money to the table with an Independent team.

NEW LINE-UP AT HONDA: two different riders guaranteed

At Honda we will see two new riders on the CBR1000RR-R. It will mean that we’ll be able to see the level of the bike. If the bike continues to perform as it has, we can say that riders aren’t the issue. The decision to hire Lecuona and Vierge was one that has been debated many times in recent years. Their Moto2 experiences showed that both were solid riders but it’s difficult not to think that Jake Dixon is a significant upgrade in terms of Grand Prix experience. The Englishman, yet to be confirmed at the team, has six wins and twenty podiums to his name so his speed in the Moto2 class is unquestionable. He’ll have to adapt to a Superbike but given that his career started in production-based racing this is a very sensible hire.

The mooted plan for a long time was a big money MotoGP rider to join Dixon. Jack Miller was on that list before re-signing with Pramac Yamaha in MotoGP and now it seems that Somkiat Chantra is in line to be the second rider. There would be question marks about the potential of the Thai rider given his performances this year. He is however a two-time Grand Prix winner so Honda’s loyalty to him could be rewarded with a solid rider.

ANOTHER WINTER OF CHANGE: will fortunes change in 2026?

On paper Honda is a top team. They have the budget and the resources needed to be successful. The team has been the biggest issue over the last six years. The hierarchy has changed on a constant basis and the decision to bring Grand Prix engineering teams has backfired. If it clicks into place Honda has the potential to be a massive player in WorldSBK racing once again. This winter will be another season of change for Honda HRC but will it usher in a change of fortunes?

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