Returning Honda BSB rider enjoys bike setup “novelty” at Spanish test

Jason O’Halloran says he was able to enjoy the “novelty” of being able to set his BSB bike up specifically for him after a year away from the championship in the Endurance World Championship.

O’Halloran was a race winner in BSB during his previous stint in the championship, but this year rejoins a Honda Racing UK team that won only once in 2025.

At a recent test in Spain, at the Andalucia circuit, O’Halloran was able to get reacquainted with the team that he spent five seasons with before joining McAMS Yamaha where he enjoyed most of his success.

It was also a chance to set the CBR1000RR-R up for his style, something that he wasn’t able to do so specifically with the YART Yamaha team in world endurance last year, when he was sharing the bike with Karel Hanika and Marvin Fritz.

“Obviously BSB bikes aren't new to me, but after my time away in the Endurance World Championship, it feels like a novelty to be able to be so specific in the setup I'm looking for,” said O’Halloran.

“Great endurance bikes are setup with compromises made for each rider that shares the seat. I'm really enjoying being able to make this bike suit exactly what I'm looking for and I feel immediately comfortable being around my new crew.

“In terms of physicality, a BSB bike is a different proposition to an endurance bike and I've had to my off-bike training plan to suit the nature of what the season has in store for me.

“Being back with Honda feels great, looking across the garage and seeing so many driven people all here to give us riders the best chance possible of delivering wins feels exciting.”

Vickers: BSB Honda “more communicative” than WorldSBK

Ryan Vickers also returns to BSB this year after a year in World Superbike. He won the most races of any rider in the 2024 season, but the Honda is a new machine to him, although he was able to test in Jerez with the WorldSBK team at the end of last year and rode the opening round of this year’s WorldSBK season as a wildcard in Phillip Island last month.

“The Fireblade felt good straight away and we were able to run consistently fast lap times from the morning of the first day,” said Vickers.

“The seat time I had in Phillip Island on the World Superbike spec bike was great, but early indications from this BSB spec bike is that it's more communicative. 

“I think this is reflected in the consistency we've seen so early. 

“It's an exciting project, I'm really enjoying working with my crew. I moved house and am now only a few miles from the team in Louth and I think that shows already.”