Honda Announces Plans for 2016 Motorcycle Motorsports Activities

In August this year, 56 years since first participating in the FIM Road Racing World Championship Series in 1959, Honda achieved an unprecedented 700 world motorcycle Grand Prix victories in all classes, following Marc Marquez’s MotoGP victory in Austin. To Honda, racing activities are its driving force, and Honda’s participation in the world’s top class of motorsports not only enables it t o hone its technologies, but apply the racing spirit and ideas to many of its products. As the leading personal mobility company, Honda continues to provide people worldwide with enjoyment and happiness through its products and racing activities, and, with its belief in its corporate slogan “The Power of Dreams,” will realize its – and customers’ – dreams.

Review of Honda’s 2015 Motorcycle World Championship Racing Activities

In the 2015 season, Honda participated in eight classes in six categories of Motorcycle World Championship racing, and the Dakar 2015. In the FIM*1 Trial World Championship Series (WCT), Toni Bou achieved an unprecedented 9th consecutive championship title. Tim Gajser won his first championship in the FIM Motocross World Championship Series (MXGP) MX2 class, as did Danny Kent in the MotoGP FIM Road Racing World Championship Series Moto3 class.

Honda’s 2016 Participation in Motorcycle World Championship Racing

1.FIM Road Racing World Championship Series (MotoGP)

Honda aims to win back the MotoGP class title, with double-world champion (2013 / 2014) Marc Márquez, and 11-year MotoGP class veteran Dani Pedrosa riding for Honda’s factory team*2 “Repsol Honda Team” on 2016 RC213V factory machines. With Cal Crutchlow (CWM LCR Honda), and Jack Miller (MARC VDS Racing Team) and Tito Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) also riding 2016 RC213Vs, Honda aims to win the “Triple Crown”; the riders’, constructors’, and team titles.

*1 FIM: Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme

*2 Honda factory team operated by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC)

*3 ? indicates Factory team, factory bike or HRC rider

Victorious in the 2015 season, Honda will compete in the Moto3 class with 2016 model NSF250RW factory machines. Eleven riders, including Enea Bastianini (3rd in 2015 season) and Niccolò Antonelli (4th in 2015 season) will aim to give Honda its third consecutive championship title.

2.FIM Trial World Championship Series (WCT)

Honda aims to claim an unprecedented 11th consecutive constructors’ title and 10th consecutive riders’ title, with nine-time consecutive champion Toni Bou, 21-year WCT veteran Takahisa Fujinami, and this season rising star Jaime Busto riding COTA4RT factory machines for Honda’s factory team, “Repsol Honda Team”.

3.FIM Motocross World Championship Series (MXGP)

In the MXGP class, Honda just missed out on taking the title this year, with Gautier Paulin finishing 2nd in the 2015 season, and Evgeny Bobryshev ranked 3^rd. In 2016, Paulin and Bobryshev will continue to represent Honda’s factory team, “Team HRC”. 2015 MX2 World Champion Tim Gajser will join the premier class, racing for Team Honda Gariboldi Racing. All three riders will aim to win the championship on the 2016 CRF450RW factory machine. HRC rider Kei Yamamoto will ride a CRF450R to compete in the class for Team Assomotor Honda.

In the MX2 class, Honda aims to defend its 2015 title with 19 year old Jorge Zaragoza racing for the championship team, Team Honda Gariboldi Racing, on a factory machine CRF250RW.

4.AMA^*4 SuperCross World Championship Series (450SX)

Honda’s factory team “Team Honda HRC” will aim for a more successful season in 2016, with Cole Seely, winner of 1 race prix in his rookie year, and Trey Canard, winner of 2 races despite fighting injuries, riding CRF450Rs to challenge for the title.

*4 AMA: American Motorcyclist Association

5. FIM Superbike World Championship Series (WSBK)

Honda World Superbike Team, supported by Honda Motor Europe Ltd. (Honda’s European regional headquarters), will compete in the series with 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden and 2014 World Supersport Champion Michael van der Mark riding CBR1000RR machines.

6. FIM Supersport World Championship Series (WSS)

The Honda World Superbike Team, supported by Honda Motor Europe Ltd., will compete in the Supersport series with Kyle Smith riding the CBR600RR machine.

The Dakar 2016

In its fourth year after returning to the Dakar, Honda’s factory team “Team HRC”, armed with 2016 CRF450 RALLY factory machines, will once again be represented by ace rider Joan Barreda and DAKAR 2015 runner-up Paulo Goncalves, joined by Michael Metge, Paolo Ceci and Ricky Brabec. Team HRC is out to win Honda’s first title in 27 years, since its Paris Dakar victory in 1988.