Honda Disaster
The season for the Honda HRC team is truly starting uphill, as already on the occasion of the Phillip Island Round, the first of the 2026 championship, it will not be able to count on both of its official riders. At the beginning of January, the team had announced the injury of Somkiat Chantra, who had suffered a fracture to his right forearm after a crash at Sepang during a training session. Having returned to Thailand, Chantra then underwent surgery on both arms, making recovery in time for the first race impossible, with Honda fielding Japanese test rider Tetsuta Nagashima in his place.
Read more Phillip Island 2026: Bulega dominates the first two free practice sessions
The absent regular riders
The second low blow came on the final day of testing at Phillip Island, in this case with Jake Dixon. After completing just one lap, the Briton lost control of the bike at turn 11, one of the fastest on the Australian track. Taken immediately to the medical center after the violent crash, Dixon was declared unfit for this weekend due to a fracture of the left wrist and a contusion to the elbow of the same arm. He is currently at the hospital in Melbourne for further checks, with the team in the meantime making his absence official: “Jake Dixon crashed this morning at turn 11 during the second day of the Official WorldSBK Test at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. After the initial checks conducted at the medical center, Dixon was found to have a fracture of the left wrist and a contusion to the left elbow. The British rider will be transported to Melbourne for further medical checks. Dixon has been declared unfit for the Australian Round. Further updates will be provided in due course.”
Read more Phillip Island 2026: Bulega dominates the first two free practice sessions
Replacement?
As a result, Honda HRC will show up this weekend at Phillip Island with only Nagashima and without its regular riders. It therefore remains to be seen whether the Japanese manufacturer will decide to replace the Englishman or not for the first race of the year.
Read more Phillip Island 2026, Race 1: Bulega leads an all-Italian top four
