Lusail, Qatar, November 5, 2026: Honda HRC Castrol has confirmed that British rider Jake Dixon will replace Joan Mir at the 2026 Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar this weekend. Dixon, who currently competes in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), will make a return to MotoGP machinery as Mir continues his recovery from injury.

Mir returned to action at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang last weekend but was forced to withdraw from the race. The Honda HRC Castrol rider will now continue his recovery at home, with the team bringing in Dixon as his replacement for the Qatar round.

Dixon brings considerable Grand Prix experience to the Honda factory team. The British rider spent seven seasons in the Grand Prix paddock between 2019 and 2025, competing in Moto2 and securing seven victories and 22 podium finishes during that period.

He also made two MotoGP appearances in 2021, with his best result being 19th place at his home Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Jake Dixon returns to MotoGP with Honda HRC Castrol

Dixon’s 2026 WorldSBK campaign has been affected by injury, making it a challenging season for the British rider. However, a return to fitness during the second half of the championship helped him secure five top-10 finishes aboard the Honda CBR1000RR-R SP.

The Qatar Grand Prix will provide Dixon with an opportunity to return to MotoGP competition and gain valuable experience on Honda’s premier-class machinery. Having spent the last few seasons away from the MotoGP paddock, the British rider is expected to approach the weekend progressively.

Speaking about the opportunity, Dixon thanked Honda HRC for the call-up and described racing for the Japanese manufacturer’s factory MotoGP team as a dream for many young riders.

“First of all I have to say thank you to Honda HRC for this opportunity. Getting the call to come ride one of these bikes is always mega and I am looking forward to it, I think every rider dreams of racing for the Honda factory team in MotoGP when they’re a kid,” Dixon said.

Acknowledging the challenge of returning to a MotoGP bike after several seasons away, he added that the focus would be on taking the weekend step by step.

“It’s been a little bit since I last raced a MotoGP bike, so we need to take the weekend steady and go step by step. I want to wish Joan all the best and I hope to see him back on the bike soon. It hasn’t been a straightforward year for me either, so I sympathise a lot with him. Let’s make the most of this weekend,” he added.

Joan Mir continues recovery at home

Meanwhile, Joan Mir will continue his recovery away from the circuit after being unable to complete the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend. The Spaniard had returned to racing action at Sepang but was subsequently forced to withdraw.

Honda HRC Castrol will therefore rely on Dixon for the Qatar round as the team looks to maximise its performance at the Lusail International Circuit.

For Dixon, the weekend represents a significant opportunity to return to the MotoGP grid and compete with a factory Honda team. His experience in Moto2 and recent WorldSBK outings on Honda machinery should provide a useful foundation as he prepares for the challenge of the Qatar Grand Prix.