BRANDS HATCH GP
18th October 2020
The Track
Circuit length: 2.4333m/3.916km
Corners: 11
Lefthand: 3
Righthand: 8
BSB Lap Record : Josh Brookes - Yamaha 1:24.873 (2017)
Honda Racing wrap up 2020 season fourth and sixth in the British Championship
Honda Racing has wrapped up the 2020 Bennetts British Superbike Championship fourth and sixth in the overall standings, after a successful debut racing year with the all-new CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, with riders Andrew and Glenn Irwin.
At the opening round at Donington Park Andrew stormed to victory winning the opening and second race of the weekend with teammate and brother Glenn taking three second-place finishes. The next round at Snetterton there was further success for Glenn, who took his first 2020 race win, as well as a second place to take the championship lead.
The next few rounds were mixed for the Honda Racing duo in terms of results, but Glenn maintained his title lead until the penultimate round at Donington Park on the GP circuit, and it was only after a DNF in the opening race where his lead started to diminish. However, in the third race of the weekend he returned to the podium in second place, after Andrew stormed to victory in the first race to take his third win of the season.
With the all-new Fireblade very much still under development throughout the shortened 2020 season, the team and Glenn arrived at Brands Hatch 18 points behind leader Josh Brookes with everything to play for, but also a big task ahead of them to claw back vital points. Glenn's results from the weekend - sixth, 12th and 11th - see him finish the season in fourth place with 226 points.
Teammate Andrew enjoyed a solid final round at the 2.4-mile Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit finishing seventh, fourth and fifth, wrapping up the season sixth with 172 points. Overall it's been a successful season for the Louth-based Honda squad with the 2020 Fireblade, which has seen four race victories and five podiums across the Superbike class.
Second place for Honda Racing and Tom Neave in the 2020 Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship
Honda Racing and Tom Neave have finished second in the 2020 National Superstock 1000 Championship with the brand-new CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.
After a consistent year with either a win or a podium scored at all but two events, Tom finished runner-up to rival Chrissy Rouse by 26 points, after crashing out of the final race of the year on the opening lap at the 2.4-mile Kent circuit.
Lincolnshire-ace Tom, racked up a total of four wins across the season with two podiums, scoring more wins than anyone else in the Superstock class over the 10 races, as well as setting a new lap record at Donington's National Circuit, which has been a superb showing for the 2020 Fireblade SP in its debut racing year.
Teammate Davey Todd also enjoyed a good season aboard the new Fireblade as he made his return to short circuit racing after a four-year break. Consistently in the points with a number of top-ten finishes, Davey wrapped up the season 12th overall.
2020 National Superstock 1000 Honda Racing Stats:
Wins:
- Round 1 - Donington Park National
- Round 2 - Snetterton 300
- Round 3 - Silverstone National Circuit
- Round 5 - Donington Park GP
Podiums:
- Round 3 - Silverstone National Circuit - 3rd
- Round 5 - Donington Park GP - 3rd
Lap Record:
- Round 1 - Donington Park National - Superstock Lap Record: 1:07.419
Pole Positions:
- Round 1 - Donington Park National - Race 2
- Round 3 - Silverstone National Circuit - Race 2
- Round 5 - Donington Park GP - Race 1
#18 Andrew Irwin
2020 when I look at it we had a lot of potential, we had a new bike, we won three races and it's been a strong year. I finished sixth in the championship, we lost a few points here and there, so to finish sixth and only 54 points from Glenn it wasn't such a bad year. This weekend I think we made big steps forward throughout and in the first race we madethe most of what we could. The next two races were quite positive and to finish Round 17 fourth was good, we were almost the best of the rest as such. The final race was really strong, and I feel probably one of my best races this season, we made a massive step forward with the race time. I want to thank all the Honda Racing team for their hard work this season and believing in me when things got tough.
#2 Glenn Irwin
Coming into this season off the back of last year it was about re-building and reminding myself of what I can do, and also the project of the all-new Fireblade, so there were lots of goals to come better again and do a better job than we did in 2018. I had to establish myself again and I think we did that, doing it on an all-new bike was never going to be easy but it's testament to the team for giving us the package we had as we didn't expect to be so strong so soon. We had very few difficult periods, but the ones we had we will look at as a team to improve the bike, but as I say there were a lot less of them compared to the good moments. I have really enjoyed working with the team, getting my mojo back, enjoyed winning a race again and fighting for podiums and to come racing again. For me that was a big thing, to come and enjoy my racing and be happy, and be happy away from racing. Personally it's been a great season regardless of what the outcome was with the championship, it's been a huge success. Thanks to all at Honda Racing, I feel we're back!
#68 Tom Neave
It's been a great season and I have enjoyed every minute of it, I've learnt so much and made a massive improvement as a rider from all angles this year. Today, was going to be win or bin, everything was on the line, it was all in and unfortunately it didn't pay off this time. I tried my hardest, but there was always going to be two outcomes and today it was bin. It's my first crash this year in a race, but we've still had more wins than anyone else, six podiums and a lap record, so all in all it's been mega! I want to say a big thank you to Honda Racing and everyone involved. We'll come back stronger next year!
#74 Davey Todd
In all honesty this season, it's been tough, but if someone had told me the results we've been getting and consistently in the points and the top-ten all year I'd have taken that at the start of the year. I didn't expect to come back after four years out to be in the mix and we've been in the mix and battling at the front in a few races, which has been nice, but you always want more as a racer. I look now and say I wanted better and wanted to do more, but it was always going to be development with a new machine. The team have worked so hard to give us a great package and it's been a real pleasure riding the 2020 Fireblade, getting to develop it and learn with it, I've learnt a lot myself too so it's been an exciting year.
Team Manager Havier Beltran
2020 started so strong for us and straight away the results were above our expectations if I'm honest. What that did, yes it gives you the motivation and drive but it also puts your expectations a lot further in front than we were able to reach with the development of the new Fireblade. I said to the guys if we're to win this championship we have to be winning races and that's where it let us down. But putting all that to one side all the highs and lows throughout Superbike and Superstock, we've had a great season we've learnt a lot and know a lot of areas where we can be a lot stronger for 2021. We've had the new Fireblade to develop and we should be proud of the success we've had with it to date, I'd like to thank all the team, Andrew, Glenn, Tom and Davey for all their hard work this year.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings
Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati) 288
Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 267
Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati) 258
Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing) 226
Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) 215
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing) 172
Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 168
Lee Jackson ( Rapid Fulfillment FS-3 Kawasaki) 157
Kyle Ryde (Buildbase Suzuki) 137
Danny Buchan ( Rapid Fulfillment FS-3 Kawasaki) 131
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