Honda Racing has signed Andrew Irwin as its first rider for its 2019 Bennetts British Superbike championship attack, while Tom Neave joins its National Superstock🌠 1000 li🌳ne-up.

Irwin caught the eye joini𝕴ng older brother Glenn at Be Wiser Ducati filling in for the injured Sh♑ane Byrne this year which culminated in his best result of the year of fourth place at the final round at Brands Hatch.

Irwin has beꦓen duly handed a s🦂hot with the factory-supported Honda BSB squad for 2019 with a second rider to be announced in the coming weeks.

Despite less than a full season under his belt, Irwin feels targeting the BSB Showdo🔯wn place is a realistic goal for 2019 having seen the Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR SP2 re𓆉ach the top six title fighting places last year.

“Honda has such a 💛pedigree and most of the top riders in the world have ridden for them at some point in their careers,” Irwin said. “To be part of that racing history and heritage really excites me.

“This year was my first year in Superbike and was a huge learning curve. Towards the end of the season I found my way and felt it was all coming togethe෴r, so now with Harv [Havier🗹 Beltran, team boss] and the team I will be aiming for the Showdown, which I believe is a realistic target.

“We will🅷 have a full season and also a test programme, which I didn’t have this year and I was still competܫitive, so we’ll be aiming for the front and I see no reason why we can’t be up there.”

Honda also confirmed both Jason O’Halloran and Dan Linfoot will leave the team this year, with the Australian ending an 11-year partnership with the J෴apanese manufacturer stretching back to his Honda Australia links while Linfoot calls time on a four-year collaboration.

O’Halloran is tipped to be joining tﷺhe McAMS Yamaha squad for 2019, while Linfoot has recently been linked with the TAG Racing-run Anvil Hire🅰 Yamaha team.

Honda confirmed it will also support Will Lathrope in BSB support series the Junior S🙈upersport 300 class in 2019.