Johnson joins Hutchinson at Honda

David Johnson will partner Ian Hutchinson to form the Honda Racing rider line-up for the 2019 International Road Racing season.

Johnson, who was the fastest newcomer of the year at the 2010 Isle of Man TT on Honda machinery, will join the factory squad this season for the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT running the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 both the Superbike and Superstock classes.

Hutchinson sticks with Honda for 2019 with the same deal while the team will also run a CBR600RR Supersport bike for the Bingley Bullet.

Johnson has finished in fourth place on three separate occasions at the Isle of Man TT and is relishing his new opportunity with Honda as he hopes to make the step on the rostrum for the first time.

“I am really happy to join the Honda Racing team for this season,” Johnson said. “Over the years they have been incredibly successful on the roads and won a lot at the TT; I feel that I will gel with the Fireblade, so I’m very excited to get started and ride the bikes.

“With Hutchy getting fitter from his injuries I think we’ll work together well and I will have some great people around me in the team. I can’t wait to get back to the UK and start testing.”

“I’m feeling confident coming into this season on the roads. Last year was about building back up and learning the Fireblade again,” Hutchinson added. “The results were a little disappointing, as they didn’t reflect the hard work that went in behind the scenes.

“But since the TT I have been out on a track Fireblade and also my road bike, so with that mileage and the testing programme we have for this year, I think we’ll be in a strong position when we arrive at the North West 200. I’m keen to get started and looking forward to the team’s first test.”