Hondanews Online Newsroom

Headlines: 2012 Honda Racing - Anaheim Two

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:33:00 -0800

2012 Honda Racing - Anaheim Two

Headlines: 2012 Honda Racing - Anaheim Two

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:33:00 -0800

2012 Honda Racing - Anaheim Two

Headlines: 2012 Honda Racing - Anaheim Two

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:33:00 -0800

2012 Honda Racing - Anaheim Two

Headlines: 2012 Honda Racing - Anaheim Two

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:33:00 -0800

2012 Honda Racing - Anaheim Two

Headlines: Honda On Top Again At Anaheim Two

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:29:00 -0800

Round five of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship Series made its way back to Anaheim, California. For a second time this season Honda riders battled for the top podium position in front of a nearly sold-out crowd at Angel Stadium. Honda had an impressive night with GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac taking his third consecutive win, and TwoTwo Motorsports/Honda rider Chad Reed riding his way to a third-place finish. Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Brayton also had an impressive night, finishing in fifth.

After struggling the last few weeks to get the finishes he desires, Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Brayton was able to put together a very noteworthy ride at Anaheim Two. Brayton set the tone for the day during qualifying by laying down the fastest lap time, giving him first gate pick heading into the heat races. In his heat race Brayton got a good start, making his way to the front of the pack. He lead throughout the majority of the race but was eventually passed on the last lap, leaving him with a second-place finish. In the main, Brayton was able to put together a solid ride from start to finish. When the gate dropped he grabbed third place out of the first turn and battled the entire 20 laps, finishing a respectable fifth place.

“The day went really great for me, starting with a successful practice, which was able to set the tempo for the rest of the night,” said Brayton. “After the last few weeks of not placing where I know I belong, it was a great step in the right direction. We have been working really hard, especially on my starts because that is key to having a great race. This weekend was a confidence booster for me, but more than anything it was a relief knowing that all my hard work is starting to pay off.”

TwoTwo Motorsports/Honda rider Chad Reed had another successful night, leaving with a third-place finish and second place in the points chase. In heat one Reed finished second, followed by Supercross.com/Honda rider Andrew Short. Reed, who battled flu symptoms all day, got a second-place start in the main but was eventually passed and had to settle for third.

“It was a rough week for me, with myself and family being sick,” said Reed. “Despite not being 100 percent, I am happy with my third-place finish because I fought as hard as I could for a podium. We are ready to move forward and go into the next round positive and ready to take back the points lead and that red plate.”

For the third week in a row GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac dominated the Lites class and will go into San Diego with a 22-point lead. Tomac nabbed the holeshot in the Lites main event but was quickly passed by Cole Seely with Troy Lee Designs/ Lucas Oil/ Honda racing. Seely led the pack until going down on lap three but was able to recover and stay in second place, where he would remain the rest of the race. Tomac quickly capitalized on the mistake, taking the lead and running away with it.

“The day started off a little slow with practice. I wasn’t exactly where I wanted to be so that gave me a little fire going into the heat race,” said Tomac. “Going into the next round it is definitely nice having those 22 points as a cushion. I am going to try and keep getting good starts and try not to make any mistakes throughout the rest of the rounds. I am looking forward to San Diego since it is where I got my first Supercross win and is the home to my favorite football team.”

Supercross Main Event
1. Ryan Villopoto
2. James Stewart
3. Chad Reed (Honda)
4. Ryan Dungey
5. Justin Brayton (Honda)
6. Kevin Windham (Honda)
7. Davi Millsaps
8. Mike Alessi
9. Brett Metcalfe
10. Brock Tickle

Supercross Championship Points (after 5 of 17 rounds)
1. Ryan Villopoto 108
2. Chad Reed 105
3. Ryan Dungey 103
4. James Stewart 95
5. Kevin Windham 73
6. Jake Weimer 71
7. Andrew Short 59
8. Brett Metcalfe 57
9. Davi Millsaps 56
10. Justin Brayton 53

Supercross Lites West Main Event
1. Eli Tomac (Honda)
2. Cole Seely (Honda)
3. Marvin Musquin
4. Dean Wilson
5. Nico Izzi
6. Michael Leib (Honda)
7. Mat Moss
8. Vince Friese (Honda)
9. Travis Baker (Honda)
10. Martin Davalos

Supercross Lites West Points (after 5 of 9 rounds)
1. Eli Tomac 113
2. Dean Wilson 91
3. Marvin Musquin 84
4. Cole Seely 79
5. Zach Osborne 67
6. Nico Izzi 62
7. Tyla Rattray 60
8. Jason Anderson 54
9. Ryan Sipes 53
10. Matt Moss 53

About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and MUVs in the U.S. American Honda’s Motorcycle Division conducts the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to www.powersports.honda.com.

Headlines: Honda Riders Reed and Tomac Lead Points Chase After Round Four

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:42:00 -0800

Round four of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship series took place this weekend in Oakland, CA. The Oakland Coliseum, which usually serves as home to the Oakland Raiders and Oakland A's, was filled Saturday night with thousands of Supercross enthusiasts. It was another great week for Honda, with GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac winning the Lites class for a second week in a row. In the Supercross final, TwoTwo Motorsports rider Chad Reed also was on the podium for a third time this season, placing second.

Team Honda Muscle Milk's Justin Brayton came into Oakland looking for redemption after a tough round three in Los Angeles, and he looked fast throughout qualifying and the heat races. Unfortunately, when the gate dropped for the main Brayton got off to a mid-pack start heading into the first turn. The remainder of the 20 laps was spent in an admirable charge through the pack, which eventually netted him ninth place. Reed fared better in the main as he got the holeshot and led the pack for almost half the race until being passed by another rider. He continued to fight hard and rode a very solid race to finish second.

"The starts are so important," said Reed. "Hopefully we can keep building on these last couple weeks, keep getting the starts and accumulating those points." The CRF450R Honda rider is now tied for the points lead and will be running red plates going into Anaheim 2.

Andrew Short also had an impressive ride Saturday night aboard his Supercross.com/Honda CRF450R, putting together 20 consistent laps to finish in fifth place. GEICO Honda rider Kevin Windham showed impressive speed with a fourth place overall qualifying time in practice. He also put together a solid main by finishing in sixth place, right behind Short.

"The night was good, it was a nice rebound for me after Dodger Stadium," said Windham. "I spent most of the week focusing on trying to come out and get my job done after last weekend. I saw the whole thing with Trey and it was really difficult for me. It felt like I had a good heat and great times during the day and I am pleased with my finish but I am really looking to get GEICO Honda on the podium."

For the second week in a row the night belonged to GEICO Honda's Lites rider Eli Tomac. Heat two was stacked full of Honda riders with Cole Seely of Troy Lee Designs/ Lucas Oil/ Honda finishing in first, Tomac in second and Billy Laninovich in third. In the main event Tomac got a third-place start, followed by Seely in fourth. Tomac made his way to the front of the pack by lap three and after that he was untouchable, laying down incredible lap times. He quickly pulled away and took the checkered flag, making him the first rider in the 2012 season to win back-to-back races. He will be running the red leader's number plates once again in Anaheim. "After the front two guys made some pretty big mistakes, I wanted to make sure I stayed consistent once out front," said Tomac. "I didn't do anything crazy and was able to ride a solid race. I am excited, the red backgrounds look good on a Honda." Seely finished in 11th position after crashing in the beginning of the race and restarting almost last. His Troy Lee Designs teammate Travis Baker had a great ride, finishing sixth in the main.

Supercross Main Event
1. James Stewart
2. Chad Reed (Honda)
3. Ryan Villopoto
4. Ryan Dungey
5. Andrew Short (Honda)
6. Kevin Windham (Honda)
7. Davi Millsaps
8. Jake Weimer
9. Justin Brayton (Honda)
10. Josh Hansen

Supercross Championship Points (after 4 of 17 rounds)
1. Chad Reed 85
2. Ryan Dungey 85
3. Ryan Villopoto 83
4. James Stewart 73
5. Jake Weimer 61
6. Kevin Windham 58
7. Andrew Short 52
8. Josh Hansen 47
9. Brett Metcalf 45
10. Davi Millsaps 42

Supercross Lites West Main Event
1. Eli Tomac (Honda)
2. Marvin Musquin
3. Zach Osborne
4. Ryan Sipes
5. Matt Moss
6. Travis Baker (Honda)
7. Nico Izzi
8. Max Anstie (Honda)
9. Martin Davalos
10. Dean Wilson

Supercross Lites West Points (after 4 of 9 rounds)
1. Eli Tomac 88
2. Dean Wilson 73
3. Zach Osborne 67
4. Marvin Musquin 64
5. Tyla Rattray 60
6. Cole Seely 57
7. Jason Anderson 53
8. Nico Izzi 46
9. Max Anstie 45
10. Ryan Sipes 43

About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and MUVs in the U.S. American Honda's Motorcycle Division conducts the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to www.powersports.honda.com.

Headlines: Honda Riders Win Supercross and Lites Classes at Dodger Stadium

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:14:00 -0800

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship series made its way to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California this weekend for round three. Honda was on the top of the podium with TwoTwo Motorsport's Chad Reed winning the Supercross class and GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac winning the Lites class.

It was a tough night for Team Honda Muscle Milk. After getting a bad start in his heat race Justin Brayton missed transferring to the main by one position. In the LCQ he got the holeshot and led for the first few laps but crashed in the whoops, sending him to sixth place, out of contention for the main. Right after the main began, fellow Team Honda Muscle Milk rider Trey Canard got tangled up with a tuff block in the first corner, dragging the cover with him. As a result, he was hindered through the triple jump and was unfortunate enough to have another rider land on him. Canard was knocked unconscious and taken off the track by the Asterisk medical team, where he was then transferred to the hospital for further evaluation.

Canard injured his back in the accident, but has 100-percent movement of his legs. American Honda will release additional information on his condition as it becomes available.

Following a less-than-desirable start in the main, TwoTwo Motorsports Honda rider Chad Reed was given a second chance after the race was red flagged due to the first-lap pileup. Reed got a third-place start the second time around and battled his way to the front of the pack, where he rode consistently to a first-place podium finish. "It feels awesome to get a win, especially at the third round. We are early in the series so I am trying to stay consistent to hopefully get more wins," said Reed.

Lites rider Eli Tomac was setting remarkable lap times during both his practice and heat race, showing that he was going to be the guy to beat that night. In the main event the GEICO Honda rider took the holeshot and never looked back. He quickly gapped the rest of the pack by several seconds, riding a solid 15 laps to the checkered flag. "I am excited for the win tonight and am happy to be leading the points into round four," said Tomac. "If I can get consistently good starts, I believe I can win like I did tonight. I am comfortable out front and plan to stay there."

Supercross Main Event
1. Chad Reed (Honda)
2. Ryan Dungey
3. James Stewart
4. Ryan Villopoto
5. Brett Metcalfe
6. Davi Millsaps
7. Josh Hansen
8. Broc Tickle
9. Kevin Windham (Honda)
10. Mike Alessi

Supercross Championship Points (after 3 of 17 rounds)
1. Ryan Dungey 67
2. Chad Reed 63
4. Ryan Villopoto 63
5. Jake Weimer 48
6. James Stewart 48
7. Kevin Windham 43
8. Brett Metcalfe 38
9. Andrew Short 36
10. Josh Hansen 36

Supercross Lites West Main Event
1. Eli Tomac (Honda)
2. Dean Wilson
3. Zach Osborne
4. Tyla Rattray
5. Jason Anderson
6. Max Anstie (Honda)
7. Michael Leib (Honda)
8. Matt Moss
9. Martin Davalos
10. Billy Laninovich (Honda)

Supercross Lites West Points (after 3 of 9 rounds)
1. Eli Tomac 63
2. Dean Wilson 62
3. Tyla Rattray 60
4. Cole Seely 47
5. Zach Osborne 47
6. Jason Anderson 44
7. Marvin Musquin 42
8. Max Anstie 32
9. Nico Izzi 32
10. Billy Laninovich 27

Headlines: 2012 Honda NC700X

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:30:00 -0800

2012 Honda NC700X.

Headlines: Trey Canard Makes His 2012 Supercross Return at Chase Field

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:37:00 -0800

The second round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship series took place in sunny Phoenix, AZ, this weekend. After a successful season opener, the Honda teams were ready to get under way at Chase Field Stadium.

This was an exciting week for Team Honda Muscle Milk, with the return of rider Trey Canard who missed the opening round in Anaheim while recovering from an earlier injury. "I am excited to be here, and I'm excited to be riding," said Canard. "It is a bummer for me because I am not right up with the guys that I normally compete with, but overall it was a very successful weekend." He rode a respectable race, finishing in seventh place in both his heat and the main event. Canard's teammate Justin Brayton had a successful heat race, finishing second. Early in the main event, Brayton got tangled up and fell to the back of the pack, but he made up a few positions to finish 14th.

GEICO Honda's Kevin Windham had a notable race, getting a good start in the main and running third most of the way. He eventually was passed by Villopoto but maintained a fourth-place finish. Supercross.com/Honda Racing's Andrew Short had another successful weekend, starting with his holeshot and second-place finish in heat one to his sixth-place finish in the main. He was edged out of fifth place after battling with fellow Honda rider Chad Reed with TwoTwo Motorsports.

After setting top lap times during his heat race, GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac got a less than desirable start in the main. Tomac put in an inspiring ride, making his way from 15th to fourth. Along the way he battled with Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda Racing's Travis Baker and Cole Seely. After Baker went down, Seely and Tomac moved past more riders and charged hard for the podium but ran out of time, leaving Tomac in fourth, ahead of Seely who ended up fifth.

Supercross Class Overall Results
1. Ryan Dungey
2. Jake Weimer
3. Ryan Villopoto
4. Kevin Windham (Honda)
5. Chad Reed (Honda)
6. Andrew Short (Honda)
7. Trey Canard (Honda)
8. James Stewart
9. Brett Metcalfe
10. Josh Hansen

Supercross Class Championship Points
1. Ryan Dungey - 45
2. Ryan Villopoto - 45
3. Chad Reed - 38
4. Jake Weimer - 38
5. Kevin Windham - 31
6. Andrew Short - 29
7. James Stewart - 28
8. Justin Brayton - 25
9. Josh Hansen - 22
10. Brett Metcalfe - 22

Lites Class Overall Results
1. Dean Wilson
2. Marvin Musquin
3. Tyla Rattray
4. Eli Tomac (Honda)
5. Cole Seely (Honda)
6. Zach Osborne
7. Jason Anderson
8. Nico Izzi
9. Max Anstie (Honda)
10. Travis Baker (Honda)

Lites Class Championship Points
1. Tyla Rattray - 42
2. Cole Seely - 41
3. Dean Wilson - 40
4. Marvin Musquin - 40
5. Eli Tomac - 38
6. Jason Anderson - 28
7. Zach Osborne - 27
8. Travis Baker - 22
9. Nico Izzi - 22
10. Max Anstie - 17

Headlines: 2012 Honda Racing - Phoenix

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:35:00 -0800

2012 Honda Racing - Phoenix

Headlines: 2012 Honda Racing - Phoenix

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:35:00 -0800

2012 Honda Racing - Phoenix

Headlines: 2012 Honda Racing - Phoenix

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:35:00 -0800

2012 Honda Racing - Phoenix

Headlines: 2012 Honda Racing - Phoenix

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:35:00 -0800

2012 Honda Racing - Phoenix

Headlines: 2012 Honda Contingency Program

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:04:00 -0800

American Honda proudly announces the continuation of the Red Riders Rewards program for 2012. For the upcoming racing season, the Red Rider Rewards program will provide Honda owners with over 28,000 opportunities to earn payouts at more than 600 race events across the United States.

Winnings will be issued through the Red Rider Rewards Card and can be used anywhere that Visa® is accepted. All results and rewards are processed electronically via XTRM Sports Network. Just sign up once and then go racing; we'll automatically load your earnings onto your Visa Red Rider Rewards Debit Card.

For program details and a list of all eligible units, visit HondaRedRiders.com.

Honda Red Rider Rewards program inquiries may be directed to the info hotline at (310) 781-5111.

Headlines: Injury Delays 2012 Supercross Start for Honda's Trey Canard

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:26:00 -0800

American Honda announced today that Team Honda Muscle Milk rider Trey Canard will miss the opening rounds of the 2012 Supercross Championship after injuring his collarbone in a crash during practice while preparing for the season opener at Anaheim, CA. Canard and the team were making preparations for the upcoming Supercross season when the incident occurred.

"Trey suffered a fracture to his collarbone when he crashed at a team test," said Team Honda Muscle Milk Manager, Erik Kehoe. "He underwent surgery and his physicians estimate he will need a recovery time of four weeks at the minimum. It's very disappointing to see this happen to Trey, especially after all the hard work he's put in to recuperate from injuries in 2011. He will miss the first few Supercross rounds, but our team will continue our preparations for the upcoming season with Trey's teammate, Justin Brayton."

Headlines: GL1800 Brake Recall

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:00:00 -0800

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that a potential defect relating to motor vehicle safety exists in the secondary master cylinder on certain 2001-2010 and 2012 model year GL1800 motorcycles.

Situation:
The compensating port hole inside the secondary master cylinder (part of the combined-braking system) can become blocked due to (1) stacking of tolerances in manufacturing and (2) sufficient swelling of the primary pressure cup inside the master cylinder. If the compensating port hole becomes completely blocked, the rear wheel brake caliper can drag after the rider releases the brake input. If this occurs, the rear brake temperature and pressure progressively increase. Unexpected braking increases the risk of a crash and continued riding with the brake engaged can generate enough heat to cause the rear brake to catch fire.

Inspection and Repair:
Honda motorcycle dealers will inspect the secondary master cylinder of all affected motorcycles in dealership stock or sold to customers (consumers and commercial entities). If an inspection indicates that the compensator port hole can become blocked due to this problem, the dealer will replace the secondary master cylinder. Registered owners of affected motorcycles will be contacted by mail and asked to take their motorcycle to a Honda dealer. The dealer will inspect the motorcycle, and if necessary, replace the secondary master cylinder, free of charge.

Additional Details:
Honda motorcycle dealers will immediately receive a transmittal of complete repair instructions. Replacement secondary master cylinders in the U.S. will initially be made available through American Honda's dealer technical support hotline. Upon approval by NHTSA, American Honda will mail a letter to all registered owners, and also post a copy of the letter on the Honda Brand website: powersports.honda.com. Target dates for website posting are before the end of December 2011, and mail receipt by registered customers should occur before the end of January 2012.

Honda apologizes for any inconvenience this creates, but feels the safety of our customers is the highest priority. Honda encourages every customer to contact their dealer to schedule an appointment upon receiving the SAFETY RECALL letter.

Headlines: Honda Earns 22nd Overall Baja 1000 Motorcycle Victory

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:00:00 -0800

The Johnny Campbell Racing Team of Kendall Norman, Quinn Cody and Logan Holladay sealed another chapter in Baja racing history this past weekend by securing the overall victory in the 44th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race. Armed with the No. 1x JCR Honda Racing CRF450X, the three riders covered the exceptionally rough and rugged 705-mile course in the fastest time of all 278 starters in the race to give Honda its 22nd overall motorcycle win in the world-famous Baja 1000 race, and also its 15th consecutive victory. It was the sixth overall career Baja 1000 win for Norman and his fifth straight, while Cody picked up his fourth career Baja 1000 overall motorcycle victory and his third straight. For Holladay, a Hollywood stunt rider, it was his first SCORE Baja race win.

After the race, JCR Honda team owner Johnny Campbell said, “It was a long day. It was really rough and I was happy to be in the air with the helicopter and not on the ground riding the bike because it was really rough. All the guys did a really good job and it was a tough race. It was very, very rough.”

Nine of the top 10 motorcycle finishers rode Hondas, including the Johnny Campbell Racing second support team of Colton Udall, David Kamo and Timmy Weigand on a CRF450X, who trailed behind the winners by a scant 17 minutes. This strong finish earned Udall the SCORE championship for the season. In the ATV classes, the first overall ATV and Class 25 winner was the team led by veteran Wayne Matlock on a Honda TRX700XX, while the winner of the ATV Class 24 (and second overall ATV finisher) was the team led by Brandon Brown on a Honda TRX450R.

About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, MUVs and personal watercraft in the U.S. American Honda’s Motorcycle Division conducts the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to www.powersports.honda.com.

Headlines: Honda Factory Team and Support Teams Gear Up for 2012 Supercross Season Opener

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:01:00 -0800

The short off-season period is hardly a slow time of year as the Honda Red Riders gear up in preparation for the 2012 AMA Supercross series, an FIM world Championship, which is set to launch on January 7 in Anaheim, California. With all the team rosters filling out, here's a preview of things to come.

- Team Honda Muscle Milk

The American Honda team will roll into 2012 with our new sponsor Muscle Milk, featuring riders Trey Canard and Justin Brayton aboard the 2012 Honda CRF450R. In addition, the team enjoys the support of GEICO, Pro-Honda Oils, Dunlop, Troy Lee Designs, Yoshimura, Renthal, DID, Twin Air, Moto Tassinari, Hinson, Throttle Jockey and VP Fuel.

Alongside Team Honda Muscle Milk, American Honda again welcomes Ashley Fiolek into the factory semi. Fiolek won the 2011 Women's Motocross Championship—her third title—and will again take on all comers in 2012.

In addition to the factory Honda team, several other teams and riders will compete aboard Honda CRF250Rs and CRF450Rs.

- GEICO Honda

Honda has had a long and successful relationship with GEICO Honda: The team has delivered numerous wins and championships, including former team member Trey Canard winning the 2008 Supercross Lites East title and current rider Justin Barcia taking the 2011 Lites East championship. Barcia returns to defend his title in 2012, and is joined in the 250 class by teammates sure to pack the podium in 2012, including Eli Tomac, Wil Hahn, Justin Bogle and Jimmy DeCotis. In the 450 class, GEICO Honda's Kevin Windham enters his 19th season as a professional in 2012—a remarkable achievement on its own, yet Windham remains at the top of his game, an ever-present threat to win. "We're happy to continue into 2012 on Hondas," said Mike LaRocco, GEICO Honda Team Manager. "Having a strong bike to begin with helps us get results. We aim to win even more titles for GEICO and Honda this coming year."

- TwoTwo Motorsports

After a thrilling 2011 season, Chad Reed and his TwoTwo Motorsports team return for their second year riding a factory-supported CRF450R. "I'm really excited to continue our relationship with Honda into 2012 and beyond," said Reed. "We entered 2011 as an unknown commodity and as the year progressed Honda really stepped up its support for the TwoTwo Motorsports team. It's definitely one of the most memorable years of my career."

- L&Mc Racing Honda

An exciting new addition to the Honda fold is L&Mc Racing Honda—a brand-new team for 2012. The new partnership between Larry Brooks and "The King of Supercross" Jeremy McGrath sees Andrew Short racing a factory-supported Honda CRF450R in both Supercross and Motocross championships. "It's every race team owner's dream to have access to the best equipment," said team co-owner Brooks. "In my opinion Honda has the best motorcycles. They have access to a lot of resources and in-house support, making them the leaders in the industry. It's only natural that with Jeremy's connection to Honda, and Shorty's history racing Hondas that we ride Honda in 2012."

- Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Honda

Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Honda will field a three-man team of 250-class riders, including Christian Craig, Cole Seely and Travis Baker on Honda CRF250Rs. Tarah Gieger will also compete once again on a Honda CRF250R in the Woman's Motocross Championship, where she finished third overall in 2011. "I am very excited for the upcoming season," said team manager Tyler Keefe. "We continue to improve every year and with American Honda's ongoing support, I think we have a great chance at winning a championship in 2012."

"This upcoming Supercross season is going to be really exciting for Honda fans," said Ray Conway, Honda Racing Coordinator. "There will be a very strong contingent of racers aboard the Honda CRF250R and CRF450R race machines all season long, and every one of them will be in contention for the win. Look for your favorite riders to be climbing the podium all season long."

For more information, contact American Honda Motor Co., Inc., (310) 783-3745.

About Honda

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, MUVs and personal watercraft in the U.S. American Honda's Motorcycle Division conducts the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to www.powersports.honda.com.

Headlines: 2012 Honda Race Team - Trey Canard

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:00:00 -0800

2012 Honda Race Team - Trey Canard

Headlines: 2012 Honda Race Team - Trey Canard

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:58:00 -0800

2012 Honda Race Team - Trey Canard

Headlines: Honda Announces More New-Model Releases For 2012

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:58:00 -0800

Honda adds five additional street models to its 2012 model year lineup. Previous announcements regarding 2012 models have well illustrated the variety and popularity within Honda's lineup with perennial favorites such as the iconic touring Gold Wing®, CRF450R motocross machine, the custom Fury® and the incredibly well-liked FourTrax® Foreman® ATVs. This addition includes the versatile CB1000R, instant-hit CBR250R, Silver Wing® scooter and the edgy Ruckus®, along with the cutting-edge VFR1200F that receives an infusion of impressive new technology for 2012.

"This release for 2012 models continues Honda's great selection of motorcycles and ATVs for the upcoming season," said Powersports Press Manager Bill Savino. "This is a great time for riding enthusiasts to visit their local Honda dealership and see firsthand the many options they can choose from within the Honda lineup. We're offering an incredibly wide variety of class-leading machines, which makes for a really fun buying experience."

More detailed information and images of Honda's model line can be found on www.powersports.honda.com or see your local Honda powersports dealer.

- VFR1200F
The VFR1200F introduced a whole new generation of Honda V-4 heritage and VFR® tradition. Bristling with advanced technology imported from the MotoGP world and other cutting-edge environments, the VFR1200F embodies a futuristic sport motorcycle created for the sheer joy of riding. Now the 2012 VFR1200F pushes those technological boundaries even further, thanks to the addition of traction control and automatic dual-clutch transmission, plus more low-end torque, a larger fuel tank and a redesigned seat for added style and comfort. Availability: TBD

- CB1000R
It's been called a street fighter, a naked bike, a supersport bike in undercover clothing and more. But regardless of what you call the CB1000R, it definitely embodies the classic Honda formula for high performance in an unfaired four-cylinder bike. Boasting clean, essentials-only styling, a fuel-injected four-cylinder 998cc powerplant tuned for loads of right-now power, single-sided swingarm with single-shock rear suspension, plus a wealth of street-worthy features that give it its own unique identity, the CB1000R stands tall as a high-performance motorcycle with an enduring design. Availability: March 2012

- CBR250R
The CBR250R brings motorcyclists an innovative approach to riding, one that's both appealing and fun. Beginners and experienced hands alike will recognize the economy and extreme versatility of this sporty little ride. Equipped with an extremely efficient 249cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine featuring a sophisticated four-valve DOHC cylinder head, engine counterbalancer and PGM-FI fuel injection, plus the option of ABS and more, this dependable lightweight delivers nimble handling, a broad spread of easily accessible power, and 77 MPG, all in one. Put it to work for your daily commute, quick trips around town or weekend back-road explorations; the CBR250R does it all while delivering as much fun per mile as anything around, all at a price that just about anyone can afford. Availability: February 2012

- Silver Wing
The Silver Wing expands the notion of what a scooter can achieve thanks to the unique pairing of a sophisticated liquid-cooled fuel-injected four-stroke 582cc twin-cylinder engine along with a fully automatic transmission. That adds up to true street-riding credentials along with easy operation, a combination that can take adventuresome riders as far as the open road beckons. In short, the Silver Wing started a riding revolution, one that continues to this day. Availability: February 2012

- Ruckus
What could be cooler than an economical scooter? How about one with an extra dose of attitude. The Ruckus is Honda's bare-knuckle scooter that sets a new standard for cool. The thrifty 49cc engine gets you where you need to go and hardly uses any gas doing it, while the V-matic® automatic transmission and electric starter makes operation easy. And best of all the Ruckus is built tough so it can handle all the bumps and dings that modern life dishes out—all while carrying off a cool and unique style of its own. Availability: February 2012

About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and MUVs in the U.S. American Honda's Motorcycle Division conducts the sales, marketing and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to www.powersports.honda.com.

Headlines: 2012 Honda CRF450R

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:19:00 -0700

2012 Honda CRF450R

Headlines: American Honda Remembers Marco Simoncelli

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:55:00 -0700

American Honda sends its condolences to the family and friends of San Carlo Honda Gresini MotoGP racer Marco Simoncelli who lost his life in a racing accident at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang yesterday.

"Marco was one of MotoGP's rising stars and he was very popular with fans in the U.S.," said Ray Blank, Senior Vice President, American Honda Powersports Division. "He was an incredibly talented and passionate rider who was thrilling to watch, and his tragic passing is being felt across the world. Our hearts go out to his family and to the Gresini team."

The charismatic 24-year-old earned his first two MotoGP podiums and his first two MotoGP pole positions this season. Only a week ago, he finished a career-best second place at the Australian Grand Prix, taking the runner-up spot to Repsol Honda's Casey Stoner.

Headlines: Brayton Debuts with Team Honda Muscle Milk at MEC

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:38:00 -0700

The Monster Energy Cup (MEC) at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, NV, hosted the final AMA race of the 2011 season over the weekend. The inaugural race blended both Supercross and Motocross disciplines into a three-race main event format, and the Honda Red Riders fared well at the unique competition on their Honda CRF450Rs.

Justin Brayton made his debut with Team Honda Muscle Milk at the MEC, competing for the first time aboard his factory-Honda CRF450R. With only two weeks of riding and testing on his new ride heading into the race, Brayton performed well and gained valuable racing experience.

After posting promising results in practice, Brayton finished his heat race in fourth place, moving him straight through to the main event. With three races comprising the main event, Brayton went on to record 13-5-18 results for 12th overall.

"Riding the MEC event was a great opportunity for me to get some valuable seat time on my bike and also see how well it performs in racing conditions," said Brayton. "I've got my first-day jitters out of the way now, and it was a good prelude to the support I will receive throughout the 2012 season. The bike was definitely awesome tonight; I just need to get a better feel for it so I'm completely at home come the start of the Supercross series."

In addition to Brayton, GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac and Kevin Windham both raced Honda CRF450Rs at the event. Tomac usually rides a Honda CRF250R in AMA competition, yet he performed extremely well on the CRF450R, going 5-4-10 for fifth overall. Honda veteran Windham went 15-14-12 for 13th overall.

Monster Energy Cup Class Overall
1. Ryan Villopoto 1-1-1
2. Ryan Dungey 3-2-2
3. Brett Metcalfe 4-3-3
4. Martin Davalos 7-7-5
5. Eli Tomac (Honda) 5-4-10
6. Kyle Chisholm 9-9-7
7. Nick Wey 14-11-4
8. Jimmy Albertson 11-10-8
9. Jake Weimer 12-6-11
10. Mike Alessi 6-21-6
11. Marvin Musquin 8-8-17
12. Justin Brayton (Honda) 13-5-18
13. Kevin Windham (Honda) 15-14-12

For more information, contact American Honda Motor Co., Inc., (310) 783-3745.

About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and MUVs in the US. American Honda's Motorcycle Division conducts the sales, marketing and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to powersports.honda.com.

Headlines: 2011 Honda Racing - Monster Energy Cup

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:36:00 -0700

2011 Honda Racing - Monster Energy Cup

Headlines: 2011 Honda Racing - Monster Energy Cup

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:36:00 -0700

2011 Honda Racing - Monster Energy Cup

Headlines: 2011 Honda Racing - Monster Energy Cup

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:36:00 -0700

2011 Honda Racing - Monster Energy Cup

Headlines: 2011 Honda Racing - Monster Energy Cup

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:36:00 -0700

2011 Honda Racing - Monster Energy Cup

Headlines: Introducing Team Honda Muscle Milk

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:20:00 -0700

American Honda is pleased to announce an exciting addition to the team for the upcoming Supercross and Motocross seasons: Muscle Milk, the leading protein-enhanced beverage made by CytoSport, has signed a multi-year agreement to be the title sponsor for Team Honda Muscle Milk.

Team Honda Muscle Milk will roll out at the Monster Energy Cup at Sam Boyd Stadium this weekend in Las Vegas with Justin Brayton making his debut on his Team Honda Muscle Milk CRF450R.

"We are really excited to partner with Muscle Milk," said Honda Racing Coordinator Ray Conway. "It's great to have Muscle Milk as a partner, a company that truly understands the physical and nutritional needs of our athletes. We are advocates of their various nutritional and recovery products as the majority of the team has been using them for some time now. It's great to be associated with and be able to endorse products that we know are nutritional and align with our rider's performance goals."

"It is awesome to partner with a brand like Honda which strives to make the best products possible like we do at CytoSport," commented CytoSport CEO Mike Pickett. "We are excited to welcome Team Honda to our elite team of athletes and partners that include Superbowl Champ Clay Matthews, 4x Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and over 30 NCAA athletic departments."

Stay tuned for additional information outlining Team Honda Muscle Milk's complete list of sponsors and 2012 Honda support team plans.

For more information on American Honda's racing teams, go to www.powersports.honda.com.

For more information on Muscle Milk go to www.musclemilk.com.

About Muscle Milk
Muscle Milk® Ready-to-Drink is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that promotes workout recovery, lean muscle growth, and sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins & minerals. CytoSport™, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was named Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage. and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World.

Headlines: Honda FourTrax Foreman Rubicon Joins New-Model Release for 2012

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 09:35:00 -0700

To add to the extensive list of models available for the 2012 season, Honda announces another release for 2012, the much-praised FourTrax® Foreman® Rubicon™ ATV. The FourTrax Foreman Rubicon joins the comprehensive assortment of 2012 Honda street bikes and off-road machines that offer multiple choices to fill just about every niche in today's riding scene.

"The FourTrax Foreman Rubicon fills out the amazingly broad range of ATVs Honda has to offer in 2012, and it is now available," said Powersports Press Manager Bill Savino. "The FourTrax Foreman Rubicon along with the Rincon cap off the full-size multi-purpose ATV lineup with two distinctly different alternatives, while the FourTrax Foreman, Rancher and Recon families offer a wide variety of hard-working and recreational options. Add to that an incredible array of sport ATVs ranging from the rider-friendly TRX90X to the Baja-winning TRX450R plus the hard-working Big Red MUV, and you see a lineup that places Honda at the head of the four-wheel category. We now see that the industry is turning the corner as sales continue to improve and we've been working hard to get our dealer network placed in a position with great products at a high value. We believe that consumers will respond to the many options they can choose from and will enjoy once they enter a Honda showroom."

n FourTrax Foreman Rubicon: Loaded with Technology and Off-Road Prowess
The FourTrax Foreman Rubicon has earned a stellar long-standing reputation for its off-road capabilities, and for good reason. Its proven, beltless, continuously variable Hondamatic automatic transmission with true engine braking is efficient, maintenance-free and extremely rugged. Add in a torque-sensitive front differential along with Honda's TraxLok® selectable 2WD/4WD system plus the option of electric power steering, and it's easy to see why the Rubicon remains the machine of choice among riders in search of an especially capable off-road ATV. Price: $7,899 - $8,899; Availability: October 2011

Headlines: American Honda Announces 2012 Supercross and Motocross Team Riders

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 09:21:00 -0700

American Honda is proud to welcome Justin Brayton to the team for 2012. Brayton will join second-year factory Honda racer Trey Canard on the team and contest both the AMA Supercross Championship and AMA Motocross Championship aboard Honda CRF450R race machines.

"I think 2012 is going to be an exciting year of racing for American Honda," said Team Manager Erik Kehoe. "Trey has demonstrated time and again he has what it takes to win. He finished on a string of podiums last year, including winning three Supercross' and was well in the championship hunt. Throughout his professional racing career, Justin has shown great speed in the 450 competition and he's always a contender to podium or win. We are really excited to see what he can do on a factory Honda-prepared CRF450R."

Returning to factory Honda for her fourth season with the team is three-time Women's Motocross Champion Ashley Fiolek. The 21-year-old racer will defend her 2011 Women's Motocross (WMX) title in the 2012 season aboard her Honda CRF250R.

"We are exceptionally proud of Ashley's achievements this past season as she battled hard to win the WMX title for her third time," Kehoe added. "Ashley does a tremendous job representing Honda not only to the Motocross community but to the mainstream media and she's a fantastic role model to youth. We are extremely happy to continue working with her in 2012."

For more information, contact American Honda Motor Co., Inc., (310) 783-3745.

Headlines: 2012 Honda Street Models Arrive

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:07:00 -0700

The list of Honda models for 2012 keeps growing as a dozen new additions expand the upcoming season lineup. This latest release includes the substantially revamped CBR1000RR—the essential superbike—offering the perfect balance of power and handling designed to work together as one complete package. Sportbike aficionados will also be glad to see the CBR600RR in 2012, and riders partial to cruisers will have plenty to talk about. Honda's line of V-twin cruisers includes eight different models: the Sabre®, Stateline®, Interstate™ and Fury, plus Honda's 750cc line of V-twins—the most popular metric cruisers in history—the Shadow Phantom®, Shadow® RS, Shadow Spirit and Shadow Aero®. For sport touring fans, the highly regarded ST1300® also returns in 2012.

"Our broad range of street bikes demonstrates again why the Honda brand remains so popular with riding enthusiasts," said Powersports Press Manager Bill Savino. "Whether they gravitate towards sport riding, cruising or touring, this latest model release offers riders distinctly different options, all with Honda's renowned dependability, quality and reliability."

More detailed information and images of Honda's model line can be found on www.powersports.honda.com or see your local Honda powersports dealer.

- CBR1000RR: The Essential Superbike
Honda's CBR1000RR is the essential superbike—the perfect balance of power and handling designed to work together as one complete package. The CBR900RR set the bar for liter-bike performance when it was introduced 20 years ago, and the new 2012 CBR1000RR sets that bar even higher. For 2012, the CBR1000RR boasts even better handling via a patented Balance-Free Rear Shock, Big Piston Fork and new wheels. Add to that a 999.8cc engine pumping out huge midrange horsepower and torque for class-leading real-world muscle, and you have a high-performance package unmatched in its overall balance by the competition. In addition, new aggressive bodywork aids aerodynamic flow and high-speed handling, and new LCD instrumentation, including a lap timer, five-level shift indicator and more, redefine the pure essence of liter-class sportbikes. Availability: December 2011; MSRP: $13,800 (standard model), $14,800 (C-ABS model)

- CBR600RR: Leading the Way Among Middleweights
The CBR600RR melds a light and compact chassis with impeccable power delivery to create a balanced combination that remains a favorite among sport riders. In racing, no other 600cc machine has won more AMA and World Supersport championships than Honda's CBR600. Also available with Honda's unique Combined ABS for the pinnacle of sportbike braking performance, the CBR600RR continues to lead the way in the middleweight class. Availability: December 2011; MSRP: $11,540 (Black, standard model), $11,690 (Red, standard model), $12,540 (C-ABS model)

- Fury/Fury ABS: Chopper Essence, Honda Quality
The radical Fury appears to be something from the farthest fringes of the two-wheeled world. Yet it's a Honda, through and through. Here we have the rolling incarnation of the pure, undiluted chopper essence, a machine that simply looks right, sounds right and goes straight to the heart of radical enthusiasts. Yet despite the extreme lines and head-turning looks, the Fury is a radical chopper that has all the functionality, quality and reliability built into every Honda. Availability: January 2012; MSRP: $13,390 (standard model), $14,390 (ABS model)

- Sabre: Pro-Street Style in a Classic Ride
Sometimes you just want to wear your aggression on your sleeve, and that's why the Sabre is ready to do your talking for you. The Sabre's muscular pro-street style provides a classic ride, with ergonomics to match. Add an impressive V-twin engine complete with Honda's sophisticated Programmed Fuel Injection, and you'll be rolling down the meanest streets with a bike that's as tough as it looks: the 2012 Sabre. Availability: January 2012; MSRP: $12,250 (standard model), $13,250 (ABS model)

- Stateline: Power and Style for Cruising
Featuring long, low lines that embody what cruising is all about, the Stateline blends two worlds of motorcycling style: traditional looks plus progressive elements. The deeply valanced fenders arc downward in classic retro style, yet the all-new rolling chassis and overall lines bring a fresh look to the class. Add to that the deep throaty rumble of a big V-twin engine and that classic big Vee power pulse, and you have a machine that's the perfect choice for cruising—anytime you want. Availability: January 2012; MSRP: $12,150 (standard model), $13,150 (ABS model)

- Interstate: High Style Plus Traveling Credentials
Sure it's fun to have a stylish ride, but it can be even better when high style merges with the ability to rack up big miles—and that's what the Interstate is all about. Check out those stylish hard leather bags that offer ample storage space and that big, traditional windscreen; we're talking all-day riding comfort and convenience that will carry you through that long, long getaway. Because when you're aboard one of the coolest rides around, sometimes you just don't want the ride to end. Availability: January 2012; MSRP: $13,240 (standard model), $14,240 (ABS model)

- Shadow Phantom: Minimalist Looks, Maximum Cool
The Shadow Phantom celebrates the joy of back-to-basics motorcycling by delivering a V-twin ride packing a uniquely clean and uncluttered appearance. Check out the minimalist look and extensive blackout treatment that bring your eyeballs back to that muscular V-twin engine featuring the convenience and sophistication of Programmed Fuel Injection. By staking out the low-profile approach to cool, the Shadow Phantom reinforces the idea that bling ain't everything in a cruiser. Availability: December 2011; MSRP: $8240

- Shadow RS: Because Classic Ideas Never Go Out of Style
The Honda Shadow RS serves as rolling proof that classic ideas never go out of style. By combining agile and responsive handling, V-twin power, clean, crisp lines and standard-style riding ergonomics, the RS is perfectly poised for whatever the journey may bring. The Shadow RS's higher footpegs enhance ground clearance, and its thoroughly modern liquid-cooled 745cc V-twin engine boasts Honda's sophisticated Programmed Fuel Injection to enhance your riding pleasure. Climb aboard the Honda Shadow RS, and the open road is all yours. Availability: December 2011; MSRP: $8240

- Shadow Spirit 750 C2: Big-Bike Looks, Distinctive Styling
Here's a machine that's perfect for cruising city streets as well as exploring back-country roads—the Shadow Spirit 750 C2. Honda has brought together a big-bike look, distinctive street-rod styling and a muscular V-twin engine—now including the sophistication and metering precision of Programmed Fuel Injection. And it all comes wrapped up in a surprisingly affordable package. Availability: December 2011; MSRP: $8240 (Black), $8540 (Candy Orange Flame)

- Shadow Aero: A Proven Winner
As a proven favorite, the Shadow Aero serves as a most satisfying ride for a wide range of enthusiasts. Factor in the Shadow Aero's classic retro styling, low seat height, power-packed V-twin engine now with sophisticated Programmed Fuel Injection and fine handling—all at a price that's just right for today's budgets—and you understand why the Aero is so popular with riding enthusiasts. Availability: December 2011; MSRP: $8240 (Candy Dark Red, standard model), $8540 (Pearl Black/Silver, standard model), $9240 (ABS model)

- ST1300: The Favored Long-Haul Ride
Long-distance adventure is best experienced aboard a machine that's keenly in tune with your riding senses. For years, the Honda ST1300 has answered the call of the open road by setting the standard for power and handling in a package that's ideal for crisscrossing the USA or just enjoying a long weekend on the road. Equipped with a powerful 1261cc V-4 engine and Honda's sophisticated Programmed Fuel Injection, plus full-coverage bodywork, a three-way-adjustable rider's seat, a motor-driven adjustable windscreen, dual saddlebags and more, the ST1300 remains the choice of dedicated long-haul riders. Availability: December 2011; MSRP: TBD

- ST1300P ABS: Law-Enforcement Special
Law enforcement agencies can also experience what other Honda riders have known for years: Nothing matches Honda's legendary performance, quality and reliability. Availability: December 2011; MSRP: TBD

Headlines: 2011 Honda Racing - Pala