Andrew Irwin says the Honda Racing UK team will always be "close to his heart" following confirmation that he has parted company from the factory-supported British Superbike team.

England's Ryan Vickers has been signed by Honda for 2026 and will return to the series after competing in World Superbikes this season with the Motocorsa Racing Ducati squad.

Northern Ireland's Irwin has spent five seasons as a Honda rider, joining the team for the first time in 2019 and winning his maiden BSB race at Thruxton on his way to eighth in the Championship.

In 2020, Irwin won three races and finished sixth before taking on a new challenge with Ulster team TAS Racing to ride a BMW in 2021.

He returned to the Honda fold in 2023 and spent three successive seasons on the Fireblade.

His standout results this year came at Cadwell Park in August, where the 31-year-old sealed three podium finishes.

A crash at Donington Park in September left Irwin with an arm injury, ruling him out of the final three rounds of the year following surgery.

Reflecting on his time at Honda, Irwin said: "My second term with Honda Racing UK comes to an end after three years.

"I think we've been pretty unlucky with some big injuries, but in all I've enjoyed it, and we've achieved some good successes.

"Honda have always given me a fantastic package and a fantastic team around me, and none of it would have been possible without all of the team, not just the actual race team but all the staff in Louth and everyone who plays their part in the background. Most of all to my crew chief, Spider, who has always had my back.

"I'm looking forward to what comes next for Andrew Irwin, but I'm equally excited to see what comes next for Honda Racing.