Honda Racing manager dismissed after failing to report overpayments totalling £160,000

Former Honda Racing team boss Havier Beltran has had complaints of unfair dismissal thrown out, after he was sacked for failing to notify bosses of overpayments totalling £160,000. 

Beltran initially departed Honda Racing UK with immediate effect last September, although the reason for his exit was unknown at the time.

Visordown has since learned that his departure was for gross dismissal on the grounds of dishonesty. 

Beltran’s time at Honda UK spanned more than 30 years, and the team manager had been a key member of the company’s British Superbike success since the 1990s, as well as its achievements on the roads with the likes of 23-time Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness. 

But following his exit on September 10, Beltran filed complaints for unfair and wrongful dismissal. 

The gross misconduct is believed to have taken place between April 2025, and September 2025. According to reports, a number of payments were incorrectly made to Beltran totalling over £160,000. 

A hearing was held at the Lincoln Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, before a reserved judgment was then sent to the parties involved on August 25, 2026.

The verdict dismissed Beltran’s complaints on the grounds that they were not well-founded. 

According to Lincolnshire Live, Employment Judge M Siddique found that "there was a deliberate and sustained choice” not to inform Honda of the overpayments, over the course of several months, by Beltran. 

The report goes on to say that “this conduct was said to constitute a serious breach of trust and confidence and to fall within the respondent’s definition of gross misconduct under its disciplinary policy, thereby justifying dismissal without notice.”

Since Beltran’s exit, Honda Racing UK’s BSB and road racing programmes have been led by Scot Hargreaves.

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