From a press release issued by Honda, regarding remarks made at Honda’s 2004-season kickoff party and press conference in Tokyo, Japan:

2004 Honda Motorsports Highlights
February 3, 2004

Suguru Kanazawa
Director, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. And President, Honda Racing Corporation

Good evening, everyone. I’m Suguru Kanazawa, and I am truly grateful for the time you’ve taken out of your busy schedules to join us. I would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude for the support you have shown for Honda and for Honda motorsports.

With your help, our teams won numerous championships last year, competing in the WGP 125, MotoGP, the World Trial Championship, the Suzuka 8 hours, the All Japan Road Race and more. This year, we will continue to participate in a wide range commitment and determination.

First, in the MotoGP class of the FIM 2004 Road Racing Championship Series, we plan to race six RC211Vs and field three teams. This year, two of veteran riders, Alex Barros and Colin Edwards, will join us, and we are gunning for the third straight title in the MotoGP class. In the 250cc class, we will field two teams and run four RS250RWs in an all-out effort to reclaim the championship.

At the World Championship for Trial, we have claimed both the rider and manufacturer titles the last four years. Seeking five consecutive victories, this year we will go with the same riders and model of machine as last year.

Honda participated in the Mountainbike Downhill races for the first time last year. We tried hard and scored one victory in a Japan Series race. This year, we will race in Japan Series as last year, and focus on the world stage, UCI world cup and NORBA national championship for Mountainbike Downhill race.

And now, I am proud to announce the establishment of the Honda Racing Scholarship. This program is to develop young Japanese riders who can compete in world road racing championships. This year, in the first year of the program, participant Hiroshi Aoyama, 22-year-old 2003 champion in the GP 250 of the MFJ All Japan Road Racing Championship Series, will compete in the 250cc class World Championship on the Telefonica Movistar Honda 250 team. Let’s all wish him success as he takes up this challenge.

As part of our efforts to develop new talent, we are also considering staging events in Japan based on the RS125R One-make Races currently held in Germany and Italy.

We look forward to working together with everyone for another year full of successes.

Thank you.