From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

Honda Finalizes 2005 Motorcycle Racing Plans

January 17, 2005­ – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has finalized its plans for participation in both Japanese and world championship motorcycle racing series in 2005, as outlined below.

Honda’s spirit of challenge is rooted in its motorsport activities. By constantly striving to fulfill its own dreams and aspirations through the ongoing challenge of leading-edge innovation, Honda also delivers dreams and excitement to its customers.

For the 2005 motorcycle racing season, Honda has set its sights on recapturing the rider’s title and retaining the manufacturer’s title in MotoGP, the top class of world championship road racing, aiming to secure the championship in each category.

World Championships Road races

FIM 2005 Road Race Championship Series

In the MotoGP class of the FIM 2004 Road Race Championship Series, Honda plans to race seven 2005 model Honda RC211Vs, with the aim of capturing a double title in both the rider’s and the manufacturer’s categories. The Honda RC211V has undergone further refinements as it enters its fourth season of racing. In the 250cc class Honda will field six bikes and three teams, and has nominated Yuki Takahashi­last year’s Japanese GP250 class champion­as the second recipient of the Honda Racing Scholarship, established last year. Last year’s recipient was Hiroshi Aoyama.

Moto GP Class
Team, Rider

Repsol Honda Team
#3 Max Biaggi (Italy)
#69 Nicky Hayden (USA)

Team Telefonica Movistar Honda MotoGP
#15 Sete Gibernau (Spain)
#33 Marco Melandri (Italy)

Camel Honda
#4 Alex Barros (Brazil)
#12 Troy Bayliss (Australia)

Konica Minolta Honda Team
#6 Makoto Tamada (Japan)


250cc Class
Team, Rider

Team Telefonica Movistar Honda 250cc
#1 Daniel Pedrosa (Spain)
#73 Hiroshi Aoyama (Japan)

Team Scot
#34 Andrea Dovizioso (Italy)
#55 Yuki Takahashi (Japan)

Team Fortuna Honda
#80 Hector Barbera (Spain)
#48 Jorge Lorenzo (Spain)



Japanese Championships Road races

2005 MFJ All-Japan Road Race Championship Series
Honda’s participation in this year’s All-Japan Road Race Championship Series, where it captured the series titles in four classes last year, will be centered on teams run by Honda dealerships and supported by Honda Motorcycle Japan and Honda Racing. The teams will be vying to recapture the series championships in their respective categories, running a Honda CBR1000RR in the JSB1000 class, a Honda CBR600RR in the ST600 class, a Honda RS250R in the GP250 class, and a Honda RS125R in the GP125 class.

*Main Honda teams and their participating riders will be announced by Honda Motorcycle Japan.