Honda HRC confirms Somkiat Chantra and Jonathan Rea as the rider lineup for the WorldSBK Portimao round.
This is a press release from Honda HRC…
(March 17, 2026) — The Honda HRC team confirms that Somkiat Chantra and Jonathan Rea will form its rider lineup for the upcoming second round of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship, scheduled to take place at Portugal’s Autódromo Internacional do Algarve on March 27-29.
Somkiat Chantra will return to action with the factory CBR1000RR-R, having missed the opening championship round due to injury. The Thai rider used the recent Portimao test session to regain confidence with his bike and will need to pass the final FIM medical check before taking part in Friday morning’s free practice session, which will mark his debut in the WorldSBK Championship.
Jonathan Rea will join the Honda HRC factory team in the garage, replacing British rider Jake Dixon who continues to recover from injuries sustained during the Phillip Island test. Dixon remains focused on his rehabilitation program, which is progressing positively and without delay.
For Rea, the Portimao round will mark a notable return to racing aboard Honda machinery in the Superbike World Championship. The six-time world champion last competed with Honda at the 2014 season finale in Qatar, where he secured an impressive second-place finish under the Losail floodlights in race two after taking fourth place in race one.
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