Honda (UK) has announced that its current MCE British Superbike Championship riders Dan Linfoot, Jenny Tinmouth and Jason O’Halloran will all remain with Honda Racing for a second consecutive season in 2016. The move to re-sign shows the team’s commitment and faith in all three riders, who will compete aboard the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade in the premier BSB class for 2016.
Dan Linfoot enjoyed a successful debut season with Honda, finishing the championship in fifth place. After a promising start to the season with a podium finish at the opening round at Donington Park, disaster struck at round two, when the Yorkshireman broke his wrist during practice. Linfoot subsequently missed two rounds while he recovered and was reunited with the team at the fourth round at Snetterton. A mixed season then unfolded, however the 27-year-old was able to place his CBR machine on the podium a further three times and secured a spot in the all-important Showdown.
The first lady of BSB, Jenny Tinmouth, showed progress in her first year with the factory-backed Honda squad. No stranger to the championship, Tinmouth had previously run her own team in the series before being snapped up by Honda. Continually improving and building her confidence, the Cheshire-based rider enjoyed her season on the championship-winning CBR1000RR and smashed her own lap records at every round.
2016 will be Jason O’Halloran’s sixth season with Honda and his second in the Superbike category, having previously competed for the manufacturer in the British Supersport and National Superstock 1000 championships. The Australian was showing potential aboard the CBR1000RR with two podiums and a handful of top-ten finishes scored before a horrific crash at Thruxton saw him break his femur and left hand, just seven rounds into the season. Unfortunately the extent and recovery time required for the BSB rookie’s injuries meant his championship challenge was over for 2015.
The Honda squad will use the winter for more development with the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade and all riders will be involved in extensive training programmes, ready for the first test to take place in the New Year. Be sure to follow Honda Racing on Facebook and Twitter for all the BSB action throughout the year.]
Nick Campolucci - Head of Motorcycles, Honda (UK)
We’re pleased to have re-signed all three riders for the 2016 season and feel it’s important that we have done this to show our commitment and faith in all three. It hasn’t been an easy return for us coming back into the championship after a year out with Dan getting injured early on, but his return and strength after missing some rounds to secure a place in the Showdown and finish fifth overall showed everyone what he’s capable of with the CBR. Also for Jason it was a huge blow for him and the team after such a promising start, and having to miss the rest of the season due to his injuries from Thruxton. We know what Jason is capable of and can’t wait to see him back on the Fireblade next year, stronger and more determined than before. Jenny had a season building on the CBR and did impress with her determination, it’s not been an easy year for her, but we know that she is fast and with a few little tweaks and work over the winter, we have faith that she can come back and fight for top-20 finishes. We’re very positive about the 2016 season and can’t wait to get going to see what the year brings.
Dan Linfoot
I’m very happy to be back in the Honda family for 2016 after a successful season - although it did have its highs and lows - we finished fifth and that’s something to build on and come into the new season fighting. It’s been fantastic working with the crew this year and to re-sign with a team for a second year is something I have been working towards for a while, it will be great to start the next season where we left off. If we can start consistent and stay injury free then I feel we could really challenge for the title and do the Fireblade some justice. A huge thanks to everyone at Honda Racing and all the sponsors for the continued support, I enjoyed being with the team this year and am looking forward to getting back on the CBR when we start our testing programme in the New Year.
Jenny TinmouthI’m over the moon to be part of the Honda Racing team for a second year; it was a dream come true when I was asked to join last year and to be back for next year is just mega! This year I got to know the Fireblade, the team and we collected a lot of good data, so we can go into the next season with most of the hard work done and just get cracking. It’s really good to also have Dan and Jason in the team again; they have been great to have in the garage and always offering help and support. I can’t wait now until our testing starts in March, I’m counting down the days!
Jason O'HalloranI’m really pleased to be staying with Honda, in what will be my sixth year with them. To have their support after my injury and missing the second half of the season has kept me going and makes me just want to come back stronger than ever. When I got injured I was lying fifth in the championship, finding my feet and felt like I could have secured a place in the Showdown, so it was a huge blow to myself and the team that I was forced to pull out. It’s been a tough few months recovering from the injuries, but these things either make or break you and I am probably stronger now than I have ever been, and can’t wait to get back on my Fireblade for testing in the New Year. I think going into 2016 we’re in a better position than we were this year, we learnt a lot during the first few rounds and I think we can have a strong championship, we have a great package with the bike and the team so I see no reason why we can’t be challenging for podiums from the start.
Havier Beltran - Honda Racing team manager
It’s a great opportunity for Honda and the riders to be working together for a second year in Superbike, to be able to further develop the Fireblade and also each of the riders. It was a bit of a mixed year for us in 2015 with both Dan and Jason sustaining injuries, which for sure hampered our results. But on a positive note the results they both received showed what they are capable of and if Jason hadn’t been injured then I believe we would have had two riders in the Showdown this year. I can see the determination and focus in all riders with their training regimes, which they have all started in readiness for next year. We’re looking forward to our opening test in March to see what progress they have all made over the winter with their training and just can’t wait to get started now.
