From Honda Racing Corporation
On Thursday at the the Grand Prix of Catalunya, Honda Racing Corporation launched the NSF250R four-stroke machine that will be used in the future Moto3 class in 2012, which will replace the current two-stroke GP125cc.
This high-performance, lightweight and compact racing machine offers young riders a good base to learn the basics in order to progress, and inherits important elements from the Honda RS125R, which has a long and successful history. In total Honda has nurtured 29 All Japan 125cc class champions, and won a grand total of 164 Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (WGP) victories and 15 manufacturer championships, of which 11 were with the RS125R.
With the introduction of the NSF250R machine and the new Moto3 class, Honda aims to continue expanding the base for two-wheel motorsport. Shuhei Nakamoto, HRC Executive Vice President and the NSF250R Development Project Leader Yoshiyuki Kurayoshi, presented the concept and the technical specifications of the new machine.
"I'm very happy to be here in Catalunya launching the new machine that Honda has produced to compete in the Moto3 category next season," Nakamoto said. "From the MT125R of 1976 to the RS125R, Honda has produced many market racing machines during this 34-year period and nurtured a number of racing riders. We have enjoyed much success with RS125R and we hope this new machine will provide a similar story. Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso became World Champions riding this bike and our aim is again to give young riders a good racing machine to help them learn the basics and gain experience to one day reach the top class. Our greatest joy would be for the machine to serve as a springboard in creating future MotoGP Champion riders."
HRC will sell the NSF250R machine, engine and spare parts in Europe and other countries through the Honda motorcycle dealer network and also through GEO Technology, an official supporter of the Moto3 class.
"The concept of the NSF250R represents an important step forward for us, to create the next racing standard," Kurayoshi said. "The main characteristics are a lightweight and compact machine, with high power and high efficiency, aiming to revitalize the road racing popularity. It is a compact machine that weighs 84 kilos, has a maximum power of 35.5 kw, 13,000 rpm and a fuel capacity of 11 litres."
Alex Crivillé, ex-500cc World Champion on the Honda NSR500, will perform demonstration laps on Friday and Sunday before the MotoGP race in Barcelona.
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