BEYOND THE BLADE - SEASON 3

The hugely popular Beyond the Blade series returns for its third season. Following the endeavours of the Honda Racing UK team as it competes in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship and races on the roads at this year’s North West 200 and Isle of Man TT races.

EPISODE 1

This season will once more take you ‘beyond the blade’ to reveal the level of commitment and effort that goes into motorcycle racing from all involved. Showcasing just what it takes to compete at the highest level of the British Championship and when racing on the roads. Things are all change in the Honda Racing UK camp with new and familiar faces forming the team for the 2023 campaign, but change is not limited to the team itself.

In this initial episode of Beyond the Blade Season 3, we go behind the scenes of the opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike championship at Silverstone. With championship changes aplenty we talk through just what it is that is new for 2023 and get the inside scoop with riders Andrew Irwin and Tom Neave as they compete in the fiercely competitive superbike series. We also drop in on road racing pair John McGuinness MBE and team newcomer Nathan Harrison as they prepare for their respective road racing campaigns. 

EPISODE 2

On the eve of the North West 200, we go 'Beyond the Blade' as we build up to our return to international road racing. In this episode we journey to the North West 200 and catch up with Glenn Irwin as he looks forward to making his roads debut with Honda aboard the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, two years after what should have been his debut in 2020.

Showing John Hogan around the North coast, Glenn reflects on happy racing memories at the 8.9-mile circuit, where he's secured four Superbike race victories - taking his first win in his maiden year in 2017, to follow-up with two wins in 2018, and again in 2019. The nostalgia for Glenn doesn't stop with his racing memories, but goes further back to when his father Alan raced at the event, and it's where Glenn spent his childhood.

We also head back to the opening round of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Silverstone, which turned into a superb weekend for the team, with Glenn doing the treble at the National Circuit.

For the 2022 season TT-legend John McGuinness is back with Honda in his 50th year, where at the Isle of Man TT Races in June, he'll celebrate his 100th start in the Superbike race. At the start of the year John went over to the TT, where he reflected on his first visit to the magical island in 1996, when he made his debut at the Mountain Course. 26 years, and 23 TT wins later - the excitement, emotion and feelings are all still there for the 'Morecambe Missile'.

EPISODE 3

In this episode of Beyond the Blade we take you to the most iconic motorcycle event in the world. The Isle of Man TT Races. The rich history of this event is woven into the very fabric of Honda’s DNA and in this episode we look back on the first time that the Japanese marque travelled to the island to compete in 1959. 

We also take you behind the scenes of the Honda Racing UK team at this year’s event to see how road-racing royalty John McGuinness MBE performed on his respective Fireblade machinery. 

Finally, we reflect on what it meant to pick up the ‘Manufacturer Award’ and how Honda continues to write history at this Mecca for motorcycling in the Irish Sea. 

EPISODE 4

In this episode of Beyond the Blade we get “Back on Track” for round six of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch to see how the season is shaping up for Honda Racing UK. 

We check in with Tom Neave to see how his sophomore year racing the Honda Fireblade in BSB is going and reflect on his experiences racing in arguably the most competitive domestic motorcycle racing championship in the world. 

Teen sensation, Franco Bourne, also introduces himself to the series as he deputises for the injured Andrew Irwin. We get him to talk us through some of the challenges that he has faced learning to race a Superbike so far and look back at his journey to become one of the youngest riders in history to race for the factory Honda team in BSB. 

And finally, we also take time to appreciate the success of the John McGuinness MBE 100th Anniversary Replica Fireblade handover event at the team’s headquarters in Louth.  

EPISODE 5

In this episode of Beyond the Blade, we head to the team’s ‘Home Round’ for the eighth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at the picturesque Cadwell Park.  

We get regular riders, Andrew Irwin and Tom Neave to take us on a lap of the track to discuss racing lines, reference markers and how this tight, twisty roller coaster-like circuit makes bike setup critical to a quick lap time. 

Sitting at the top of the Pirelli National Superstock Championship standings, Dan Linfoot takes time out of his weekend schedule to chat through how his year racing the Optimum Bikes Racing Fireblade is shaping up, and how the switch to slick tyres is producing lap-record pace at numerous circuits. 

And finally, we reflect on the weekend’s racing and how Tom Neave and Franco Bourne performed at the Lincolnshire circuit, just 7.2 miles away from the team’s HQ. 

EPISODE 6

In this final episode of Beyond the Blade we look back on the last two rounds of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park and Brands Hatch. 

In a season that has been heavily disrupted by injury, Andrew Irwin discusses some of the challenges of his return to racing and how tricky conditions at Donington added to his difficulties. 

Honda is also extremely proud to have assisted MSV in the development of their 2024 pathway regulations, designed to make entry to the Superbike class more accessible for new and existing teams. We learn exactly what is a Pathway specification Superbike and chat with pathway riders Alex Olsen - Cumins by Team IWR & Franco Bourne - Marvel HCL Motorsport. 

We also reflect on a successful year of racing for Honda mounted riders in the Pirelli National Superstock series where seven different riders tasted victory aboard a Fireblade. 

And finally, we reflect on the year with team boss Havier Beltran and riders, Andrew Irwin and Tom Neave.