John McGuinness will compete in the 2022 road racing with Honda Racing Team alongside TT newcomer, Glen Irwin.
The announcement coincides with Honda’s 30th anniversary of the Fireblade which has been upgraded for 2022 including a stunning retro anniversary paint job.
“What can I say really, it’s like coming back home to the family! I’ve been in talks for a while with Neil and Harv and it’s just something that feels right; it’s the 30th anniversary of the Fireblade, I’ll be 50 years old and also celebrating my 100th TT start, so it feels like it’s meant to be.
“I’ve enjoyed a lot of success on the roads with the Honda and worked with Harv back in the day with HM Plant Honda, so I’m looking forward to getting back into the set-up and getting going.
“I had a little go on the Fireblade earlier this year and was impressed with it on track, so looking forward to getting on the roads and seeing how it goes. It’s going to be a special year with everything going on and also just getting back to the North West 200 and the TT and everyone racing there again – I can’t wait to get stuck in!” said McGuinness.
Meanwhile, McGuinness will be joined by NW200 winner, Irwin who is set to make his debut at the Isle of Man TT.
“Finally, I’ll be making my long-awaited TT debut with Honda! We’re now more familiar with the new Fireblade and the team is more familiar; I like to have home comforts as such and continuing with the bike and the same team I think puts us in a better position with a frame of mind,” said the 31-year old.
McGuinness and Irwin will compete in both Superstock and Superbike category with the TT scheduled to run from May 28 to June 11.
Zaqhwan Zahidi and his teammates steered their Honda Asia-Dream Racing Team to a well-deserved 7th place.
They finished ahead of many works factory teams.
The results meant they finished on position higher than they did in 2017.
Malaysian rider, Zaqhwan Zaidi and this Honda Asia-Dream Racing Team teammates Tory Herfoss from Australia and Andi Farid Izdihar of Indonesia achieved an incredible 7th position at the prestigious Suzuka 8-Hours endurance race over the weekend.
Troy Herfoss, Zaqwan’s teammate – Courtesy of fimewc.com
Suzuka circuit typically plays host to the final round to the FIM Endurance World Championsip (EWC). Since the circuit is Honda-owned, the Honda Asia-Dream Racing Team’s result was even sweeter.
But it was not easy as it seemed. The 5.821-km Suzuka Circuit is challenging in itself, featuring corners upon corners that lead into one another in combination with slow and fast sections, forcing the riders to be on top of their game without places to rest. Now throw in 63 other bikes into the mix.
If having to contend with that many man and machine on the track and pits wasn’t enough, the weather played tricks on the field this year by being unpredictable at best. There were top-class riders who crashed when they caught out by a rainstorm.
In fact, the circuit was lashed by a typhoon which brought 170 km/h winds with it the night before, but repair crews worked through the night to fix the damaged facilities. (Respect to the Japanese for their hardwork.)
Start of the Suzuka 8-Hours – Courtesy of fimewc.com
“It’s a lot harder this year due to unpredictable weather,” said Zaqhwan afterwards. Honda Asia-Dream Racing team manager, Zulhelmi Ahmad said he noted that the weather had impacted the team’s temperament, but it didn’t sway them from their determination of achieving a Top-10 position at the finish.
“It’s not an easy feat to get P7!” exclaimed the joyful 23-year-old Zaqhwan Zaidi. The team had started from 12th on the grid.
Into the R130 – Courtesy of fimewc.com
However, the aforementioned Zulhelmi Ahmad, who is also Boon Siew Honda’s Motor Sports manager, admitted that he has mixed feelings about the results, “I can’t say that I am delighted with the result today as we failed to reach our full potential.” The team could’ve finished on position higher if not for a botched pit stop. “But we cannot ignore the fact that the team did better this year in terms of overall timing and we finished one position above (last year’s P8),” he continued.
The Honda Asia-Dream Racing team finished the tough race with a total time of 8h00m:05.666s compared to the winner’s time of 8h00m:01.728s, with just 4 laps down. They will definitely do better next year.
The signature ferris wheel at Suzuka – courtesy of fimwec.com
Before we end, and before anyone starta slagging off the 7th place result and the Suzuka 8-Hour Endurance race, let us provide some background.
The Suzuka 8-Hours endurance race actually began in 1978 for prototype TT-F1 (Tourist Trophy Formula One) motorcycles, but as superbikes became more and more popular through the years, the FIM scrapped the TT-F1 class altogether to the benefit of a production-based race.
Also called the Suzuka 8-Hours, the race is an immense event all by itself, usually attracting between 85,000 to 100,000 race fans.
As such, motorcycle manufacturers pay lots of attention to the race and they will field top riders from MotoGP, World Superbike, All-Japan Superbike, and among other prestigious championships around the world to pair up as teams of 3 riders each. Check through the Suzuka 8-Hours history and you’ll come across great names such as Wes Cooley, Mike Baldwin, David Aldana, Fred Merkel, Wayne Gardner, Wayne Rainey, Scott Russel, Aaron Slight, Doug Polen, Noriyuki Haga, Colin Edwards, Mick Doohan, Carlos Checa, Casey Stoner, Jonathan Rea, and even Valentino Rossi (in 2001 when he partnered Colin Edwards to win the race).
Rossi at 2011 Suzuka 8-Hours – Courtesy of LAT Images
So what Zaqhwan Zaidi said is right, to come home in 7th ain’t easy, given the level of competition. The Honda Asia-Dream Racing team had actually finished behind F.C.C. TSR Honda France, who are the 2018 EWC Champion and one of the regulars in the GP scene; while finishing ahead of the Moriwaki and Yoshimura Suzuki works teams.
FCC TSR Honda France – Courtesy of www.honda.co.jp
The problem with many racing series around the world, apart from MotoGP, is due to lack of telecast in mass media, resulting in most people being misinformed. But keep in mind that it doesn’t mean the race isn’t prestigious if it isn’t televised.
Anyhow, let’s celebrate our national rider, Zaqhwan Zaidi and Honda Asia-Dream Racing team’s great result. We hope there will be more from the likable rider and team.
Barisan penunggang Honda Racing 2018 telah diumumkan dan ianya terdiri daripada Ian Hutchinson dan Lee Johnston.
Pemenang Isle of Man TT sebanyak 16 kali, Hutchinson, dan bekas juara ‘National Superstock 600’, Johnston, akan meneruskan usaha perlumbaan jalan raya Honda bagi tahun 2018.
Kedua-dua penunggang ini berhadapan satu tugas yang besar dalam ‘menjinakkan’ jentera Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 untuk perlumbaan North West 200, Isle of Man TT, dan Ulster GP pada tahun hadapan.
The 2018 Honda Racing line-up has been announced in the form of Ian Hutchinson and Lee Johnston.
16-time Isle of Man TT winner Hutchinson and former National Superstock 600 champion Johnston will be continuing Honda’s road racing efforts for 2018.
Both riders will have their hands full in order to tame the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 to race in the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster GP next year.
The road racing world has woke up to quite an announcement earlier today with Honda Racing confirming that 16-time Isle of Man TT winner Ian Hutchinson and former National Superstock 600 champion Lee Johnston will be joining their road racing efforts for 2018. (more…)
It is the MotoGP weekend and this is the time when riders from all teams hit the ground to meet their fans, friends, sponsors and everyone who means something to them.
Cal Crutchlow of LCR Honda was one of those riders who hit town for a meet and greet session this evening at Hard Rock Cafe, KL. Organised by Castrol, Crutchlow met dealers, members of the media, fans and about 200 lucky people who managed to get up close and personal with the race winner.
The 32-year old from England has had a storied career in motorcycle racing – beginning his professional career as a superbike rider and was crowned the British Supersport Champion in 2006. He then went on to clinch the Supersport World Championship title in his rookie season in 2009. After making his debut in MotoGP, he joined LCR Honda in 2015 after stints at Yamaha and Ducati.
Last year, Crutchlow became the first ever Briton to win the Australian Grand Prix and was also on the podium at Brno. He finished the 2016 season in seventh place, and this year he is currently in ninth place with two more races left in the season.
“Castrol’s relationship with LCR Honda started in 2015, the same year Crutchlow joined the team. This is the first time we have arranged a meet and greet session for MotoGP fans here in Malaysia. Some of the guests here are winners from the FB competition we organised earlier. The Castrol brand is about passion, excitement and performance; and LCR Honda together with Cal Crutchlow as its rider, perfectly encapsulates Castrol’s brand values. Our long term technical partnership with motorcycle manufacturers and the use of the highest level of motorcycle racing as a testing ground is a very important part of our never-ending development of high quality products, both for competition racers and enthusiast bikers around the world. With Castrol POWER1 as the chosen lubricant, the LCR Honda will be able to call upon the highest performance from their bike for the upcoming race,” said Keow Mei-Shan, Marketing Director Malaysia and Singapore (photo, below).
“We consider the Malaysian MotoGP race in Sepang to be our home race, and as such, the livery on the LCR Honda bike will position Castrol POWER1 as the team title sponsor for this race. This, obviously gives us an added significance in wanting to see Crutchlow and the team doing well in Sepang,” Mei-Shan concluded.
The LCR Honda Team uses Castrol POWER1 Racing 4T with ‘Race Derived Technology’ and is specifically designed for bikers who love the exhilaration of riding. Using ‘Race Derived Technology’ it flows fast and stays strong, reducing internal engine friction even under the most arduous riding conditions. It has been tested and proven to deliver exceptional acceleration and power at a touch of the throttle. The inclusion of Trizone Technology™ ensures uncompromised performance protection for the engine, clutch and gearbox.
Penunggang Honda Racing, Guy Martin, telah membuat keputusan untuk menarik diri dari perlumbaan TT Senior terakhir dalam Isle of Man TT 2017.
Disebabkan masa yang terhad diluangkan dalam pembangunan motosikal beserta dengan cuaca yang buruk dan kemalangan superbike Martin pada hari Ahad, keputusan itu dibuat untuk kebaikan semua pihak.
“Kami tidak mencatat masa yang diperlukan untuk menjadi cukup kompetitif di sini, kami memerlukan lebih masa untuk mengatur cara motosikal ini dan melakukan hanya enam pusingan (TT Senior) tidak akan mencapai apa yang kami ingin lakukan.”
Honda Racing’s rider Guy Martin has decided to withdraw from the final Senior TT race in the Isle of Man TT 2017.
Due to the limited amount of time spent developing the bike together with poor weather and Martin’s superbike crash on Sunday, the decision was made for the benefit of everyone.
“We’re not doing the times needed to be competitive here, we need more time to set up the bike and doing six laps (Senior TT) will not achieve what we set out to do.”
The Honda Racing squad stationed at this year’s Isle of Man TT races has just confirmed that their only star rider Guy Martin will not partake in the final superbike Senior TT race. The race was scheduled to begin the six laps around the Mountain Course earlier today has been further delayed due to poor weather and track conditions. (more…)
Pasukan Honda Endurance Racing sudah bersiap siaga bagi bertarung sehabisnya di perlumbaan 24 Jam Le Mans kali yang ke-40 hujung minggu ini.
Freddy Foray, Julien Da Costa dan Sébastien Gimbert akan mengemudi jentera Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 terbaru bersama dengan pelumba jalanraya British, Lee Johnston sebagai penunggang simpanan.
The Honda Endurance Racing team primed and ready to battle it out at the 40th Le Mans 24 Hour race this weekend.
Freddy Foray, Julien da Costa and Sébastien Gimbert will race the all-new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 together with British road racer, Lee Johnston as their reserve rider.
The Honda Endurance Racing team is ready to compete at the 40th Le Mans 24 Hours race this coming weekend from 15 April – 16 April 2017. The team is going to compete on board the all-powerful and updated 2017 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2. (more…)
Menemui semula ‘aura’ motorsikal berkuasa tinggi dalam konvoi Honda Asian Journey 2016 ke MotoGP
Honda telah menganjurkan konvoi serantau buat pertama kali meningkatkan kehadiran mereka dalam pasaran motorsikal berkuasa tinggi di Asia. Konvoi ini telah dinamakan Honda Asian Journey 2016.
Program ini dijalankan sempena perlumbaan 2016 Shell Malaysia MotoGP yang berlangsung hujung Oktober lepas. Sepang International Circuit (SIC) adalah satu-satunya perlumbaan MotoGP yang dianjurkan di Asia Tenggara. (more…)
