Six-time champ steps in for injured Jake Dixon at Portimão
Honda HRC has confirmed Jonathan Rea will race for the factory squad at this weekend’s second round of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship at Portugal’s Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimão, on 27–29 March.
Rea joins the team as a stand-in for Britain’s Jake Dixon, who is still recovering from injuries sustained during the Phillip Island test. Honda says Dixon’s rehabilitation is continuing “positively and without delay.”
Rea also acknowledged the quick turnaround back to race mode on social media, posting on his Instagram profile: “That ‘retirement’ lasted long 🤪”.
For Rea, the Portimão appearance marks a notable return to racing aboard Honda machinery in the Superbike World Championship. The six-time world champion last competed with Honda in WorldSBK at the 2014 season finale in Qatar, where he took fourth in Race 1 before securing an “impressive second-place finish” under the Losail floodlights in Race 2.
Beyond the intrigue of a one-off fill-in ride, Rea arrives at Portimão as the most successful rider the championship has seen. Across a WorldSBK career that began in 2008, the Northern Irishman is the winningest rider of all time, and remains the benchmark for race victories and championships in the modern era.
Honda HRC has also confirmed Somkiat Chantra will return to action on the factory CBR1000RR-R after missing the opening round through injury. The Thai rider used the recent Portimão test to rebuild confidence and must still pass a final FIM medical check before he can take part in Friday morning’s free practice session, which is set to mark his WorldSBK debut.
