Jonathan Rea will race for the Honda HRC team in Portugal as a replacement for Jake Dixon, who is still recovering from an injury sustained during testing in Australia. The Northern Irish test rider, who had hung up his helmet at the end of 2025, will therefore ride the CBR1000RR-R at the Portimao round scheduled for the weekend of March 27–29, returning to competition on a Honda 12 years after his last race. Rea’s last race on a Honda was in fact the 2014 season finale in Qatar, where he finished second in Race 2 after placing fourth in Race 1.
The round in Portugal will thus mark a new chapter in the six-time world champion’s history with the Japanese manufacturer, with whom he made his World Superbike debut right here in Portimao in 2008, racing for the Hannspree Ten Kate Racing team.
Just as in the recent tests held at the Algarve circuit, Rea will take to the track alongside rookie Somkiat Chantra. Once he receives the green light from the doctors, the Thai rider will tackle his first race weekend of the season, after being forced to miss the round at Phillip Island due to an injury sustained in January during training.
It remains to be seen, however, when Dixon will make his race debut. The Briton is currently focused on his rehabilitation program, which, according to Honda, is progressing positively and without delays.