Honda HRC confirms Chantra and Rea as rider line-up for the WorldSBK Portimão round
The Honda HRC team confirms that Somkiat Chantra and Jonathan Rea will form its rider line-up for the upcoming second round of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship, scheduled to take place at Portugal’s Autódromo Internacional do Algarve on 27–29 March.
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 Portimão 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 programme, which is progressing positively and without delay.
For Rea, the Portimão 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 2 after taking fourth place in Race 1.
