Fresh off a successful run at the AMA Pro Racing tire test at Daytona International Speedway, American Honda has announced that it will not field a factory American Superbike team in the 2009 AMA Pro road racing series. Factory team mechanics who were told just weeks ago that they could bank on the fact that American Honda would go road racing one way or another because racing is in the company’s genes, are now jobless. Read American Honda’s announcement below: American Honda withdraws from AMA road racing Torrance CA: American Honda announced today that it will withdraw Team Honda from participation in the 2009 AMA Roadracing Series. This was an extremely difficult decision to make as the racing spirit reaches to the very core of Honda. The primary factor contributing to this decision is the current global economic situation and its impact on Honda. Although Team Honda will not be in attendance, Honda will continue to be represented in AMA Roadracing through our ongoing support of both the Erion Honda Racing and Corona Honda Racing teams. Entering the second year of our partnership with Red Bull Energy Drink, the Honda Red Bull Racing team will return for the 2009 Supercross and National Motocross season with a full roster of factory riders. American Honda’s factory and support teams have earned more than 100 national titles in U.S. Road Racing, ATV, Supermoto, Supercross, Motocross and off-road competition, and we would like to extend our deepest thanks to all the sponsors, supporters and fans of our racing efforts over the years. We ask that you continue to support the Honda Red Bull Racing team, the Erion Honda Racing team and the Corona Honda Racing team along with all the other Honda Red Riders as they chase the championships and battle for each victory. While it is unfortunate that the current economic conditions led us to take this action, rest assured that Honda’s deep-seated passion for racing has not been, and will never be, diminished.