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Honda Racing Corporation

HRC unwraps the updated 2016 Honda RC213V GP race bike in Indonesia. (more…)

New Honda superbike rumoured for debut in 2017 and could carry new ‘RVF’ nameplate instead of ‘CBR’. (more…)

Video released on social media shows off the intricate processes and approach undertaken when hand-building the Honda RC213V-S hyperbike. (more…)

For UK citizen John Brown, a Honda dealership operator based in Manchester, his Christmas holiday got off to a good start when he became the world’s first customer to take deliver of his brand new Honda RC213V-S.

Brown took delivery of his prized machine on Christmas eve, and it will reportedly be added into his illustrious Honda bikes collection. Notably, the new Honda RC213V-S delivered to him isn’t the only rare Honda in said collection. Amongst them are other rarities from the famed Japanese red wing marque such as a RC30, SP1 and SP2. Also in Brown’s collection is a CBR900RR Fireblade and a VF1000F.

RC213V-S first customer handover (6)
RC213V-S first customer handover (6)

Brown was clearly delighted with his latest addition and relished in the opportunity to own the much hyped Honda RC213V-S. He added, “As soon as it went on sale I registered my interest on the website, and when I received the call from Honda to say my order was accepted it was a very special day for me.”

RC213V-S first customer handover (7)
RC213V-S first customer handover (7)

Based on the race- and championship winning Honda RC213V MotoGP bike, Honda’s racing arm, HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) began offering the street-legal RC213V-S for sale beginning July last year. Though the fanfare of Honda’s newest hyperbike was mixed due to the varied specifications, HRC still received a sizable numbers of orders.

The Honda RC213V-S reportedly commanded a price tag of £150,000 in the UK. HRC states that further deliveries have been slated for this year.

Source: Honda Europe via Asphaltandrubber and MCN

Retired MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has left the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) to re-join the Ducati team as a test-rider and brand ambassador.

The move was officially announced recently and sees the Australian reconnecting with the team that granted him his first MotoGP world champion’s title back in 2007.

Stoner’s move away from HRC test-riding duties was long rumoured in the past few months, but both the Australian and HRC opted to officially announce his departure sometime just last week. In the process, the folks at HRC also stated their thanks and gratitude towards Stoner and his contributions over the last few years as a HRC test-rider.

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After retiring from MotoGP in 2012, Stoner continued as a test-rider for HRC, but only rode sporadically since then, spending no more than a couple of days annually astride a Honda GP bike. Sources report that the move was made for two reasons, the first of which being the fact that the Australian kept good ties with the Italian team even after leaving it for HRC and secondly was the timely arrival of Gigi Dall’Igna as the head of Ducati Corse that made a return to Ducati even more attractive.

Presently, Ducati confirmed that Stoner will mainly focus on private tests and not riding in any of the official 2016 pre-season test sessions in Sepang, Phillip Island or Qatar. Whilst the prospect of Stoner returning on-track astride a Ducati GP bike for a wildcard outing appears to be slim, Ducati fans can instead rejoice at the fact he will be reappearing at next year’s World Ducati Week 2016 festivities in Bologna, Italy.

Sources: Asphaltandrubber and Visordown

Japanese motorcycle powerhouse Honda is set to expand the CRF250 dirt bike model range very soon following reports of its intent at putting the Honda CRF250 Rally concept bike into production.

The news comes following patent and trademark files leaked online. No targeted release date was disclosed, but we are led to believe we will see one as soon as EICMA 2015 later this month.

Honda-CRF250-Rally-side

Essentially, the Honda CRF 250 Rally concept underpins the red wing marque’s CRF 250 dirt bike, with the concept donning a new dressing akin to HRC’s Dakar Rally enduro. Minus the enduro-styled aesthetic enhancements, the concept still retains much of the production bike’s mechanicals.

The leaked design patents revealed that the production-bound version gains several predictable changes such as the adoption of a street-legal exhaust silencer and tail light set.

A baby HRC Rally bike replica available for purchase in showrooms worldwide? Count us in Honda!

Sources: Asphaltandrubber via Visordown

The Drive M7 SIC Racing Team  confirmed yesterday that they will be switching to Honda machinery in 2016. The team will be using two NSF250RW bikes, replacing the KTM bikes that are being used currently.

The Malaysian team said that strongly believes that the new partnership with Honda will enhance the team’s performance and open the door for greater success in 2016.

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Dato’ Razlan Razali, the CEO of Sepang International Circuit said,  “We are extremely thankful to Honda Racing Corporation for supplying us with the Honda machines for next season. Honda has proven last year and especially this year to be extremely competitive and we sincerely appreciate them delivering the bikes for our two riders in 2016.”

“Besides providing the bike for the team there is a lot more that we can do with the local Honda distributor here in Malaysia; it’s the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle for us with our involvement in the Asia Talent Cup, where all the riders are using Honda machines. With this partnership we can transfer knowledge and expertise from our Moto3 team to the Asia Talent Cup,” he added.

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Johan Stigefelt,  the team manager for the Drive M7 SIC Racing Team on the other hand, said that they have gained a lot of experience from our first year in Moto3 as a team and I think the switch to Honda will be a step in the right direction for them.

“We have a good connection with HRC in terms of our relationship with Sepang International Circuit and the Asia Talent Cup. With regards to performance we know the Honda is very strong and can fit well into our structure and with our riders. I’m very pleased to have this opportunity and that Honda Racing Corporation have agreed on this partnership with us,” he said.

 

Two-time MotoGP champion and Repsol-Honda rider Marc Marquez shares his experience of the all-new Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin in video.

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Street-legal Honda RC213V-S GP bike replica reportedly sold out a month ahead of online booking deadline.

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Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup is now welcoming new applicants for its upcoming third season in 2016. Think you have what it takes? Sign up now!

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 Asia’s only leading Moto3 race series is now welcoming applicants for its 2016 Season. Think you have what it takes? Sign up now for Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup 2016!

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As part of a holistic approach to help the young Malaysian riders taking part in the 2015 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup (“SAATC”), Shell Advance recently organised a special 3-day 2-night Rider Development Programme at Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort. (more…)

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