BEYOND THE BLADE - SEASON 2

Beyond the Blade returns for a second season where the Honda Racing UK team will take on the Roads and the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, launching a full-scale Superbike attack.

EPISODE 1

This season will once again follow the team in the British Championship with riders Glenn Irwin, Ryo Mizuno and Takumi Takahashi, as well as following reigning Superstock Champion Tom Neave's journey in the premier class in what will be his debut full season on the Superbike Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.

With the return of road racing for 2022, the team will once again contest the International North West 200, as well as the Isle of Man TT Races, where Honda still holds the crown as the most successful manufacturer ever in the event's 115-year history. Not only are Honda back on the Roads, but returning to the Honda family is TT-legend and 23-time TT winner John McGuinness, alongside teammate and TT newcomer Glenn.

In the first episode of Beyond The Blade Season 2, we catch up with the team at its Louth-based workshop to see the changes to the Fireblade for the 2022 season, there's also a trip to Mugen's European headquarters to talk tuning. Plus, we spend a day in the life of 2021 Pirelli National Superstock Champion Tom Neave on the family farm in Lincolnshire, as he prepares for his rookie year in BSB. 

EPISODE 2

On the eve of the North West 200, we go 'Beyond the Blade' as we build up to our return to international road racing. In this episode we journey to the North West 200 and catch up with Glenn Irwin as he looks forward to making his roads debut with Honda aboard the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, two years after what should have been his debut in 2020.

Showing John Hogan around the North coast, Glenn reflects on happy racing memories at the 8.9-mile circuit, where he's secured four Superbike race victories - taking his first win in his maiden year in 2017, to follow-up with two wins in 2018, and again in 2019. The nostalgia for Glenn doesn't stop with his racing memories, but goes further back to when his father Alan raced at the event, and it's where Glenn spent his childhood.

We also head back to the opening round of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Silverstone, which turned into a superb weekend for the team, with Glenn doing the treble at the National Circuit.

For the 2022 season TT-legend John McGuinness is back with Honda in his 50th year, where at the Isle of Man TT Races in June, he'll celebrate his 100th start in the Superbike race. At the start of the year John went over to the TT, where he reflected on his first visit to the magical island in 1996, when he made his debut at the Mountain Course. 26 years, and 23 TT wins later - the excitement, emotion and feelings are all still there for the 'Morecambe Missile'.

EPISODE 3

Beyond the Blade is back for Episode 3, where motorcycle journalist John Hogan goes behind the scenes with the Honda Racing UK team during the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season.

In the third instalment, join the Honda Racing UK team as they head to Brands Hatch for the third round of the British Superbike Championship, where for the first time in two years a full capacity crowd returned trackside to enjoy the racing action.

We take a look at the timing screens and see just how valuable they are to the Crew Chiefs back in the garage, who are closely watching their riders' progress through each track sector during each session and race.

Join the celebrations at the fourth round at Thruxton in Hampshire when Glenn Irwin and Tom Neave returned to the podium, finishing third aboard their Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP machines in both the Superbike and Superstock classes.

EPISODE 4

Welcome back to Beyond the Blade, where in Episode 4 it's all about the Isle of Man TT Races as we go behind the scenes at this iconic event, where Honda still holds the accolade as the most successful manufacturer-ever, with an outstanding 189 TT victories.

After a two-year break, racing action at the 37.73-mile Mountain Course returned for 2022 and aboard the mighty Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP was TT-legend and 23-time winner John McGuinness MBE, with TT newcomer Glenn Irwin alongside learning the ropes.

This year's event was a special one for Honda, with celebrations around the 30th Anniversary of the Fireblade, as well as the RST Superbike Race marking John's 100th TT start.

EPISODE 5

Welcome back to Beyond the Blade, where in Episode 5 it's all about the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Showdown where rounds six, seven and eight of the series are crucial for those wanting to secure a spot to become one of the eight BSB 2022 Title Fighters.

Heading to Thruxton, Cadwell Park and Snetterton all eyes were on Honda Racing UK's Glenn Irwin, to see if he can grab a spot in the all-important Showdown and battle to become the 2022 champion at the last three rounds.

Keeping with the British Championship there's a mid-season catch-up with BSB rookie Tom Neave, as we see how he's getting on with his transition into the premier class aboard the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP Superbike, and how it differs to that of his 2021 championship-winning Superstock machine. 

There's a look back at the Suzuka 8 Hours where Takumi Takahashi rode for Team HRC and helped Honda lift the winning trophy again for the first time in nearly a decade, as well as it being Takumi's fourth win at the prestigious event. 

The team are also joined at Snetterton by 23-time TT winner John McGuinness MBE where before the weekend kicked off, they visited John Banks Honda in Bury St Edmunds for an evening of fun and entertainment.

EPISODE 6

Welcome back to Beyond the Blade for the final episode of the 2022 season, where across the year we have enjoyed going behind the scenes with the Honda Racing UK team as they contested the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, as well as racing on the roads. 

In this episode we look back at the amazing season Davey Todd and the Milenco by Padgetts team have enjoyed, with a strong showing on the roads as well as being crowned the 2022 Pirelli National Superstock Champions, where the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP retained its winning title for a second year. 

We also look at the season the Honda Racing UK team has enjoyed in BSB, where they finished as runners-up in the series after a solid year with Glenn Irwin aboard the Fireblade. Starting with wins at Silverstone for the opening round, Glenn and the team wrapped up the year with two wins at the final round, as well as a third place. 

There’s also a catch up with Glenn’s teammates Ryo Mizuno, Takumi Takahashi and BSB rookie Tom Neave, as they discuss their 2022 season.