Seventy years ago, Soichiro Honda proclaimed that Honda would enter international racing. By 1959, they competed in the Isle of Man, and sixty years ago, they debuted in Formula 1 and won. Soichiro Honda’s passion for victory transformed a small company into a racing giant. Below are some milestones Honda Racing has achieved over the past 70 years, many featuring some Australians behind the handlebars, many that we are proud to celebrate.
Factory Honda Racing Australia is celebrating many of Honda’s successes at Round 6 of the Australian Motocross Championship through the collaboration of SKDA and Team Director Yarrive Konsky’s creative vision.
Charli Cannon, who leads the Women’s Championship, will be racing with Casey Stoner’s Australian-themed graphic, which he used upon his return to Honda. The RCV 212V took him to his second championship in 2011. Charli, the SCT Logistics Honda rider, is proud to sport the Australian-themed graphic and is well aware of Casey’s prowess in MotoGP. “I was so excited when Yarrive told me which Honda rider my graphics would represent. Casey even follows me on social media, which makes this extra cool. The kit looks amazing, and upon his return to Honda, he won the championship. I can’t wait to go racing and I hope to win Honda and our team sponsors a women’s championship this year,” said Charli Cannon.
Current MX2 points leader Brodie Connolly will ride a Chad Reed-inspired replica bike. Chad’s choice of motorcycle when starting his own team was Honda, and his success was outstanding, only marred by injury. His return to winning and leading championships again showed how incredibly talented Reed was. Chad was one of the pioneer’s, creating pathways for other Australians to be taken seriously worldwide. “This is epic. Reed was one of the best riders ever to compete in motocross and supercross. His style on and off the bike changed trends. The bike looks amazing with Polyflor on it. I like the track in Toowoomba and am ready to get back to racing, some of these breaks are a little to long for my liking, so I can’t wait to race,” said Connolly.
Noah Ferguson is ready for redemption aboard his Michael Byrne-inspired Rockstar Honda graphic. Ferguson, the Boost Mobile Honda rider and fellow Queenslander who sits third in the championship, wants to return to winning. Byrner a Queenslander, carved a commendable career overseas, now managing the Australian MX of Nations team and testing for Honda Japan while helping train the Lawrences and Hymas. Byrner returned to Australia to do a one-off Supercross in 2009 and rode for Factory Honda under Yarrive Konsky’s direction. Ferguson is familiar with Byrner’s achievements and hopes to honour this opportunity. “Byrner was and still is a legend on a bike. He was one of the best Australian riders to make a career overseas. I hope I can follow in his footsteps,” said Ferguson.
South Australian Alex Larwood will run a fellow South Australian’s replica graphics. Brett Metcalfe’s successes in America are well noted. His time on a Honda included a runner-up finish in the AMA 450 Motocross Championship in 2010. Larwood and his family have always looked up to Metcalfe. Larwood, the winner of the last round, hopes to carry the momentum into Round 6 in Toowoomba. “Metty is a legend, and he achieved some of his best results during his time at Geico Honda. To run his replica graphics is an honour; my family and I have always looked up to him and I hope to do him and the team proud in Toowoomba,” said Larwood.
Jake Cannon, the team’s MX3 rider, is returning from a successful debut in America. Cannon will run a Jeff Leisk-inspired graphic. The highly decorated World runner-up 500cc champion is Australia’s OG, having been the first to open doors for all other Australians to be taken seriously overseas. Leisk’s greatest racing achievements were all on Hondas, and young Cannon’s goals are to race overseas. “Jeff Leisk went overseas when he was young and achieved so much. I hope I can do the same and more,” said Cannon.
Two additional graphic kits have been created, but only one will be raced as Wilson Todd is still recovering from an injury sustained earlier in the year.
Current MX1 points leader Boost Mobile’s Honda rider, Kyle Webster, will compete with a 2004-2005 Honda Racing F1-inspired graphic. Honda finished 2nd in the constructor’s championship in 2004. Kyle is well aware of Honda’s success in F1, seeing HRC logos on the Red Bull cars. “Honda’s participation in most forms of motorsport is well known, and their efforts to win are clear. They have been so dominant in F1 for many years. I like the clean look of my kit. I have been racing Hondas for almost a decade, and representing this iconic brand is something I am most proud of,” said Webster.
The final graphic kit represents Mick Doohan’s RCV213V. Mick won six championships with Honda and continues to promote the brand. It’s fitting that it’s 30 years since he won the championship adorning the graphics we have replicated. Team Director Yarrive Konsky says he will ride with these graphics later in the season, as he and his father used to stay up to watch Mick race; it was something they enjoyed together. “Mick is Honda in my eyes and was also in my father’s eyes. We stayed up cheering him on; we can’t forget how amazing he was, truly one of the best ever to race a motorcycle. All the graphics we are running have real significance – Honda is committed to excellence and hasn’t shied away from competition challenges. We are proud to showcase a small part of their enormous and successful history in racing,” concluded Konsky.
