Team Honda Retains McGuinness & Cummins for 2015 Isle of Man TT & North West 200

News 07.01.2015                           McGuinness and Cummins remain with Honda Racing for 2015 roads campaign Honda Motor Europe has confirmed that John McGuinness and Conor Cummins will once again form a two-man squad for its 2015 road racing campaign with the Honda Racing team. The ‘Morecambe Missile’ and the ‘Ramsey Rocket’ will contest the Superbike and Senior classes at the Isle of Man TT and the Superbike races at the North West 200 aboard the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP. 21-time Isle of Man TT winner McGuinness had a frustrating 2014 season after suffering a broken scaphoid while training on his off-road machine. Despite this, he secured very respectable top-ten places in the Superbike and Senior TT races, as well as a well-deserved victory in the TT Zero class. 2015 will see McGuinness return fully fit and ready to prove that he’s still the man to beat on the Mountain course. Cummins made an impressive debut with Honda Racing in 2014, securing a brace of podium finishes at the NW200 and the Isle of Man TT, including second place in the Blue Riband Senior TT. With a successful first season with Honda Racing under his belt and having proven his ability on the roads, the 28-year old Manxman is certain to be in the fight for race wins in 2015. In addition to their commitment with the Honda Motor Europe-backed Honda Racing squad, McGuinness and Cummins will compete for the privately owned Jackson Racing team aboard the Honda CBR600RR in the Supersport class at the NW200 and TT, as well as contesting the 2015 Endurance World Championship Superstock class aboard the Fireblade SP. Cummins will also compete for the team in the Superstock class on the roads. Honda’s plans for the 2015 Endurance World Championship season will be announced shortly. For all the latest news from the Honda Racing team, follow @HondaRacingCBR.   Neil Tuxworth We’re very happy to retain both John McGuinness and Conor Cummins for our 2015 road racing campaign. It goes without saying that our well-established relationship with John is proven to reap results. Last year was tough for him with his injury but he still got some good results. He’s very determined and we have every confidence that he’ll come back fighting. He is still very capable of winning races. Conor really impressed us in 2014, not just with the results, but also with his work ethic and attitude. He’s hungry for success, yet incredibly humble and he really puts in the effort on and off the bike. We’re delighted to have him on board for a second season. I believe we are in a very strong position for the 2015 road racing events.  John McGuinness There’s no denying that 2014 was a tough year for me. It shook my confidence and held me back but I’m ready to put it all behind me and get back to the business of winning races. I’ve said it before but the Honda team is like family to me and that support means everything. I can’t wait to get back on the bike and prove that there’s life in the old dog yet. Conor Cummins 2014 was a great year for me. I achieved a career-long dream in riding for the official Honda team and I just wanted to make the very most of the opportunity I’d been given. I’m thrilled to be staying with the team for 2015 and now that I have a season of experience on the Fireblade SP under my belt, I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can achieve. Hopefully we can bring home some good results.   Copyright-free images © 2015 Honda Racing

Team Honda Results for Northern Ireland's North West 200

North West 200 - Northern Ireland 17.05.2014                           Cummins on the NW200 podium on Honda Racing debut Conor Cummins made his competitive debut for Honda Racing at the North West 200 today, securing a podium finish and a sixth place in the two Superbike races aboard his 2014 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP machine.   The first Superbike outing was shortened from seven to five laps after heavy rainfall left the 8.9-mile Triangle circuit in difficult conditions. The race began just before 1pm with Cummins getting off to a good start and fighting his way into second place by the end of the second lap. An attack from Michael Dunlop on the penultimate lap saw the Manxman drop back to third place, where he held fast until the chequered flag to take his third-ever North West 200 podium and his second of the day, having placed second in the earlier Supersport race. William Dunlop took the win with Michael Dunlop in second place.    Race two was also shortened to five laps and went ahead at 5pm on a drying track. Cummins put in another solid performance, eventually settling for sixth place and rounding off his Honda Racing debut in satisfying style. The race was won by Michael Dunlop with Josh Brookes in second and Alastair Seeley in third.    John McGuinness struggled today as the broken scaphoid he sustained two months ago continues to heal. The six-time North West 200 winner was unable to finish either of the two Superbike races, pulling in to the pits on the final lap of both.   The Honda Racing team will now turn its attention to the Isle of Man TT, which begins on Monday 26 May.  Neil Tuxworth     team manager It’s been difficult for John due to his injury and the fact that he’s had very little time on the bike. This circuit is particularly hard on his wrist as you have to break heavily seven or eight times. I think it will be a little easier for him at the TT after two more weeks of recuperation. On the other side, Conor has had a fantastic day and he’s performing just as I expected. I think he’ll be one of the top contenders at this year’s TT without a doubt. John McGuinness     DNF     DNF I’m not going to lie, today has been one of the toughest days I’ve ever had in racing. My wrist injury has made things very difficult around this circuit and it was almost impossible for me to push, particularly in the conditions we had today. I just have to put this behind me and look ahead to the TT. I’ve got another week or so of recovery and physio time so let’s hope I can improve things before we head there. Conor Cummins     3rd     6th It’s been a good day at the office for me. If someone has told me last night that I could have a third and a sixth today, I’ve have taken that without hesitation. The weather played a big role today and it’s been tricky racing but I’m happy. I just wanted to get that last race done and now I’m in a really positive frame of mind to head to the TT. All in all, it’s been a great day.    Copyright-free images © 2014 Honda Racing

Team Honda's John McGuinness Has Rough Qualifying Session for Saturday's North West 200 in Northern Ireland

North West 200 - Northern Ireland 15.05.2014                           Honda Racing completes North West 200 qualifying Following the second and final qualifying session for the 2014 North West 200 in Northern Ireland today, Honda Racing’s Conor Cummins and John McGuinness will start Saturday’s Superbike races from seventh and 15th respectively on the grid.   The 45-minute session took place in warm and sunny conditions as the riders headed out on the 8.9-mile circuit in an attempt to improve on yesterday’s times. Cummins was able to climb to seventh on the grid after posting a 4:26.638 lap, 2.5 seconds behind pole sitter Michael Dunlop.   McGuinness – who is celebrating his 20th North West 200 – struggled in today’s session as he continues to recover from a broken scaphoid sustained in training two months ago. The six-time NW200 winner did manage to improve his lap time and will start from 15th position. Just five seconds separate the top 15 riders on the highly-competitive Superbike grid.    Saturday’s race order is below, with roads closing at 10.30am BST. Cummins and McGuinness will complete for Honda Racing in the two Superbike outings: Supersport race (6 laps) Superbike race (7 laps) Supertwin race (4 laps) Superstock race (6 laps) NW200 Superbike race (7 laps) John McGuinness It was pretty tough for me today. This is my first time in anger on the bike since my accident and with back-to-back practice on my 600, Stocker and the Superbike today, it’s taken its toll. I’ll have some physio ahead of tonight’s Supersport and Superstock races and hopefully that will help.   Conor Cummins I’m pretty happy with today to be honest. We made a few changes half way through the session and put a different tyre in the rear, which worked mega, so I managed to go quicker. The guys are busting their chops to get things sorted for me and I’m excited for the race now. I need to get some steady results under my belt ahead of the TT so I’m going to give it some welly!   Copyright-free images © 2014 Honda Racing