THE Bennetts British Superbike Championship gets underway this weekend for Bradford race ace Dean Harrison, but not in the UK.

He has been testing in England and Spain this month after his much-publicised off-season move to Honda Racing from DAO Racing Kawasaki.

That first official BSB test came at Donington Park on the first weekend of April, but this week, the riders travelled out to Northern Spain and the Circuito de Navarra.

Testing there took place between Tuesday and yesterday, with the opening round of the championship being held at the circuit today and tomorrow.

Free practice and qualifying will take place from 10:50am today, before both races are held tomorrow.

There will then be a two-week gap before round two at Oulton Park, with the rest of the season also taking place in Britain.

A test will take place at Oulton Park in the week leading up to the race there, with round three being held at Donington Park on the weekend of May 17-19.

In between the British Superbikes rounds at Oulton Park and Donington Park, Harrison will be in slightly more familiar territory.

A road race specialist, the Bradfordian will be heading to Northern Ireland on Tuesday, May 7 for the famous North West 200.

Arguably only second in prestige on the road racing calendar to the Isle of Man TT, the NW200 this year will get underway on the Wednesday, with qualifying and races taking place up until the Sunday.

There will be another presence from the Bradford area at the North West 200 in Bingley racer Ian Hutchinson.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Ian Hutchinson in action at the Isle of Man TT, a circuit and race that has held fond memories for him down the years. Ian Hutchinson in action at the Isle of Man TT, a circuit and race that has held fond memories for him down the years. (Image: Chris Hartley.)

He will be in action for the Milenco Padgetts Honda team, making a welcome return to top-level sport after suffering a stroke at the start of last year, which led to him losing his racing licence for 12 months.

Hutchinson has also confirmed his presence at the Isle of Man TT later in the year too.

The 44-year-old is one of the most successful racers in the event's history, having claimed 16 wins there over a decade-long spell between 2007 and 2017.