Paulin, Bobryshev, Gajser and Zaragoza unveil 2016 Honda CRFs at MXGP of Italy

The 2016 Honda CRF450R and CRF250R were revealed today at the MXGP of Italy by Team HRC riders Gautier Paulin and Evgeny Bobryshev and Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser and Jorge Zaragoza.
Joining them in the reveal were HRC’s General Manager for MXGP Roger Harvey and Honda Motor Europe’s Off-Road Manager Davy Dousselaere.

The Motocross World Championship was an apposite host for the premiere, as the production models revealed draw much of their technological development from the factory machines proven in the heat of competition.

The 2016 machines represent further technical evolutions of two key models in Honda’s CRF line-up, which ranges from the youngster-friendly CRF50F through to the multiple Dakar stage winning CRF450 RALLY.

The CRF450R benefits from further improvements to suspension, damping and steering geometry, whilst the CRF250R also enjoys suspension improvements coupled to improved top-end power and torque developed in conjunction with HRC.

CRF2050R

Both the new machines will be on public display throughout this weekend at Maggiora and at the following MXGP of Germany at Teutschenthal.


Gautier Paulin, Team HRC MXGP rider:

“I had a standard 2015 CRF450R at home for riding which I really liked but when they changed it for a ’16 model I was really happy. I’ve had a few mornings riding the bike and it’s working awesome. The ’15 bike was good but the ’16 is ever better.”

Tim Gajser, Honda Gariboldi MX2 rider:

“It’s great to be taking the covers off the new CRF250R. Last year it was a good bike but with the work on engine and suspension the 2016 bike is even better. I work so much with Honda and HRC on my race bike, and I'm really happy that the customer bikes also get some of this development to improve them even more too.”

Full 2016 CRF450R & CRF250R product specifications: www.hondanews.eu

Notes for editors:

CRF450R

CRF

- Launched in 2000, the CRF range extends from the beginner-friendly CRF50F to the CRF450 RALLY bike competing in Rally Raid World Championship,
- The CRF range includes the CRF450X and CRF250X Enduro models, the CRF450R and CRF250R Motocross models, and the road-legal CRF250L and CRF250M.
- Since 2013, Honda has run the one-make Honda 150 European Championship with the CRF150R, as a support race at a number of European MXGP races.

About Honda:

- Founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda, Honda is the world’s largest engine manufacturer.
- Honda designs, manufactures and markets automobiles, motorcycles and power products worldwide. A global leader in powertrain and electromotive technologies, Honda produces more than 25 million engines annually for its three product lines.
- In 2014 Honda sold 17 million motorcycles worldwide, an increase of 1.19% compared to 2013.
- It has been the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959.
- Since 1986, it has been actively involved in robotics, and released the first ASIMO humanoid robot in 2000.
- The Hondajet world tour took place between April – May 2015 where the jet made its first European appearance. First customer deliveries are expected late 2015.


Source Honda Motors ©