HONDA Motor Co. recently announced its motorcycle activities and initiatives for 2021.

In a release, Honda said despite the challenges still presented by the coronavirus pandemic, it will continue with its push in sharing the fun and joy of riding a motorcycle and competing.

Among its planned activities is vying in the most prestigious motorcycle races in the world, including in various races in different categories in Japan and in other regions around the world. It said everyone involved in Honda motorsports like the riders, engineers, mechanics and other team members, is determined to work as “Team Honda” and compete collectively in full force.

In the 2020 season, Honda won the Dakar Rally for the first time in 31 years. Honda also achieved the 800th FIM*1 World Championship Grand Prix victory while winning championship titles in the premier classes of the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) Motocross World Championship and the FIM Trial World Championship as well.

This year, the team had a good start, winning anew the Dakar Rally, which took place from Jan. 3 to 15.

It is also looking to do well at the FIM Superbike World Championship later this year.

In addition, Honda will compete in the FIM Endurance World Championship and the FIM World Championship of the AMA*4 Supercross Championship. Moreover, in Japan and many other countries and regions, teams formed by local Honda subsidiaries and dealers will participate and strive to win championship titles in the road race, motocross and trial categories.

INITIATIVES
As far as new initiatives, starting this year, Honda said it will begin the Honda Superbike Challenge Program, which is designed to support riders who compete in road race championships around the world to further advance themselves.

Under the program, Ryu Mizuno who competed in the JSB 1000 class of the MFJ*5 All-Japan Road Race Championship last year with MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO. Honda team, will begin competing in the British Superbike Championship this season.

Honda, too, will continue to push for the development of young riders. In the 2021 season, the group is still supporting Honda Team Asia, which will compete in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes of MotoGP.

In the Philippines, Honda is a strong supporter of motorcycle racing through Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup.

Unfortunately, last year the competition was cancelled because of the pandemic with a return eyed for this year.

The 2020 Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup was supposed to happen from May to October. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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