BRADFORD motorcycling ace Dean Harrison has decided on his next team following his split with DAO Racing Kawasaki.

From next season the speedster will ride for the factory Honda team at major road race meetings and at the British Superbike Championship.

Harrison moved to Honda after a seven-year stint with DAO Racing which included his 2019 Isle of Man Senior TT triumph.

The Bradford star, 34, will be joined by team-mates for the first time in his career and it will be the legendary John McGuinness and Nathan Harrison who will accompany the Bradfordian in riding the Honda Fireblade superbike which is set to be revealed in January next year.

Speaking to the T&A following his move, Harrison said: “I’m over the moon to be honest. I think it will be brilliant for me and all involved, so I’m really excited to get going.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Dean Harrison (second from far right) with his new teamDean Harrison (second from far right) with his new team (Image: Honda Racing)

In July, DAO Racing announced that the 3-time TT winner and 2019 Senior TT champion, Harrison, would be leaving the team at the end of the 2023 season, ending a 7-year partnership in the process.

And although the Bradford racer is eagerly waiting his new Honda journey to begin, he admitted that it wasn’t an easy decision to depart a team he had so much success with.

He said: “It was a tough choice (to depart DAO for Honda), particularly when you’ve been somewhere for so long like I had with DAO. People say that the grass is greener on the other side, but it’s not always the case.

“So, it certainly took a bit of thinking about, but once it was done, it was done. I’m happy now I’m with Honda and it means I can just focus on next season.”

Harrison highlighted several key elements as part of his reasoning behind picking Honda as his next team, when he admitted: “First of all, the name Honda speaks for itself and it’s one of the biggest teams in motorsport racing. They put so much investment into the job; there’s new bikes coming out frequently and the whole package has the bikers’ best interests at heart.”

He added: “It was important when picking my team to know that I could compete in both road and superbike racing, so that was a big pull for me. To be able to do it on a new bike will bring a different element of excitement to it as well.

“Finally, for me, having teammates is something new and something I’m looking forward to. I believe it will benefit me because the data is all shared between you and your teammates, which means I’ll be able to find out what other people are doing that maybe I’m not doing in my performances. It gives me a different way of learning.”

Harrison’s first race with Honda will come at the North West 200 in Northern Ireland from 6-11 May before competing at the Isle of Man TT three weeks later.

The Bradford-born rider has achieved several podium positions at the North West 200 but is yet to earn a victory on the Triangle circuit.

He’s hoping that the move may help better his results.

Harrison said: “You always hope that change will bring different ideas and maybe different outcomes. I’m hoping that this new bike will have a bigger top speed, and starting with the North West 200, let’s hope that it gives me the tools to win races.”