From a press release issued by Honda: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced the key features of its 2008 motor sports program including its motor sports strategy, and initiatives to cultivate new talent to claim the podium at world-class racing events and expand the popularity of motor sports, as outlined below. Honda’s spirit of challenge is rooted in its motor sports activities. By constantly striving to fulfill its own dreams and aspirations through ongoing challenges, Honda aims to share dreams and excitement with its customers. Outline of Honda Motorsports Activities in 2008 1. Motorsports Strategy In motorcycle racing, Honda has set its sights on recapturing the three championship titles for rider, manufacture and team in the Road Racing World Championship MotoGP class, the top class of world championship road racing. In addition, Honda is aiming to secure championships in other categories of road racing and in each of the motocross and trial racing series. In automobile racing, with a new structure for the Honda Racing F1 Team, Honda will continue it’s challenge for the Formula One World Championship. As for the IRL IndyCar Series, Honda began participating in 2003 and since 2006, the company has been the sole supplier of engines. This year, once again, Honda will provide all IndyCar teams with V8 HI8R engines running on 100% ethanol fuel. And for the second year, Honda will compete in the American Le Mans Series, with a car equipped with the Acura LM V-8 engine. In the Super GT, with five teams with five cars under the Honda NSX-GT Project, Honda is focused on taking the double titles of individual and team championships for the second year in a row. 2. Cultivating New Talent to Claim the Podium at World-class Racing Events Honda continues to implement a long-range program to foster talented riders and drivers who will compete for success in world-class racing events. In motorcycle racing, Ryuichi Kiyonari, Yuki Takahashi and Shuhei Aoyama will compete in world-championship races, having benefited from training at the Suzuka Circuit Racing School or from the Honda Racing Scholarship, granted to foster young Japanese rider talent. As part of its auto racing activities, Honda will promote organized programs for fostering young talent under the Honda Formula Dream Project. The project is implemented through Suzuka Circuit Racing School (SRS-K, SRS-F), Formula Challenge Japan (FCJ), the All-Japan Formula 3 Championship and Formula Nippon, with the objective of turning out skilled young racers able to compete in racing events worldwide. This year, Hideki Mutoh, the 2003 Formula Dream champion and 2nd in the 2007 Indy Pro Series, will compete in the IRL IndyCar Series as a member of Andretti Green Racing. 3. Expanding the Popularity of Motorsports Mobilityland Corporation will continue to host racing events and actively create venues and opportunities for people to watch, participate in and enjoy racing with the aim of contributing to the further growth of motor sports in Japan. At Twin Ring Motegi, the Indy Japan 300 Mile Race will be held on April 1719 while the FIM Road Racing World Championship Japan Grand Prix will be held on September 2628. In addition, full-scale renovation work is getting underway on the pits and paddocks at the Suzuka Circuit racing course. To express appreciation to Honda fans, Enjoy Honda Suzuka will be held this year on May 1011 at Suzuka Circuit, and Enjoy Honda (Honda Racing Thanks Day) will be held on November 24 at Twin Ring Motegi. Other events on the calendar this year include the Honda Exciting Cup One-Make RaceCivic Series as well as various participatory events and driving meetings for Honda vehicle owners to be held throughout Japan. Outline of Motorcycle Racing Plans Road Race FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix MotoGP class In the MotoGP class of the Road Race World Championship Grand Prix (WGP), Honda plans to race six further refined RC212V MotoGP machines, with the aim of recapturing all three titles. Just as in last season, riding for the Repsol Honda works team will be Dani Pedrosa, who ranked No. 2 in the 2007 season, and Nicky Hayden, the winner of the 2006 series championship who placed No. 8 in 2007. Team / No. / Rider / Age / Country / 2007 Result Repsol Honda Team / 2 / Dani Pedrosa / 22 / Spain / MotoGP 2nd Repsol Honda Team / 69 / Nicky Hayden / 26 / USA / MotoGP 8th Team San Carlo Honda Gresini / 15 / Alex De Angelis / 23 / San Marino / WGP 250cc 3rd Team San Carlo Honda Gresini / 56 / Shinya Nakano / 30 / Chiba Japan / MotoGP 17th JiR Team Scot MotoGP / 4 / Andrea Dovizioso / 21 / Italy / WGP 250cc 2nd LCR Honda MotoGP / 14 / Randy De Puniet / 27 / France / MotoGP 11th 250cc class In the 250cc class, Honda will field two riders and two teams with the RS250RW, aiming for the championship title. Team / No. / Rider / Age / Country / 2007 Result Thai Honda PTT SAG / 14 / Ratthapark Wilairot / 19 / Thailand / WGP 250cc 17th JiR Team Scot 250 / 72 / Yuki Takahashi / 23 / Saitama Japan / WGP 250cc 11th MFJ All-Japan Road Race Championship Series With factory teams allowed to take part in the races from 2007, Honda competed in the JSB1000 class as the works team TEAM HRC. To help reinvigorate road racing in Japan and to further increase opportunities for people to watch and enjoy the races, in 2008, Honda will enter the JSB1000 class as the Dream Honda Racing Team, with the cooperation of Honda Motorcycle Japan Co., Ltd. Team / No. / Rider / Age / Country / 2007 Result DREAM Honda Racing Team 48 / 48 / Yusuke Teshima/ 25 / Saitama Japan / JSB1000 12th DREAM Honda Racing Team 11 / 11 / Kazuki Tokudome/ 24 / Kagoshima Japan / JSB1000 6th In collaboration with Honda Racing Corporation and Honda’s technical staff, Honda Motorcycle Japan will also provide support to a number of teams and riders, centered on teams run by Honda dealerships competing in the JSB1000, GP250, GP125, ST600 and GP-Mono classes. Motocross races MFJ All-Japan Motocross Championship Series The works team TEAM HRC will be vying to capture the championship title in each of the IA1 class (displacement of 450cc or less for 4-stroke machines) and the IA2 class (displacement of 250cc or less for 2-stroke machines). Team / Class / No. / Rider / Age / Country / 2007 Result TEAM HRC / IA 1 / 712 / Yoshitaka Atsuta / 30 / Miyagi Japan / IA 1 class 2nd TEAM HRC / IA 1 / 4 / Kazumasa Masuda / 27 / Tokyo Japan / IA 1 class 4th TEAM HRC / IA 2 / 197 / Yu Hirata / 23 / Aichi Japan / IA 2 class 2nd In collaboration with Honda Racing Corporation and Honda’s technical staff, Honda Motorcycle Japan will also provide support to a number of teams and riders, centered on teams run by Honda dealerships competing in the IA1, IA2, IB2, IB-Open and Ladies classes. Trials FIM World Trial Championship Series For the FIM World Trial Championship Series, Honda will run two Montesa COTA 4RTs equipped with 4-stroke engines, with the aim of capturing the rider’s title for the second year in a row and our third consecutive manufacturer’s title. Team / No. / Rider / Age / Country / 2007 Result REPSOL MONTESA HRC / 1 / Toni Bou / 21 / Spain / Champion REPSOL MONTESA HRC / 3 / Takahisa Fujinami / 28 / Mie Japan / 3rd MFJ All-Japan Trial Championship Series Honda Racing Corporation will provide support to a number of teams and riders, centered on HRC Club teams belonging to HRC service shops. Main Honda teams and riders participating in MFJ All-Japan Championship Series races (Reference information) In cooperation with Honda Racing Corporation and Honda technical staff, Honda Motorcycle Japan Co., Ltd. plans to hold the Honda Racing Family Circuit Meeting to offer opportunities for Honda riders participating in all-Japan road races and motocross championships to practice riding, as well as advice on physical training. At the venue of each championship, the Honda Racing Family Racing Service will be made available for riders participating in the race, where machine setting by technical staff and advice on riding technique will be provided. In this way, riders’ racing activities will be properly supported. Major team/rider for All Japan Road Race Championship Team / Class / Bike / Rider / 2007 Result Kyubo.com Team HARC-PRO. / JSB1000 / CBR1000RR / Takashi Yasuda / JRR JSB1000 2nd Team Sakurai Honda / JSB1000 / CBR1000RR / Choujun Kameya / JRR JSB1000 5th MORIWAKI MOTUL Racing / JSB1000 / CBR1000RR / Tatsuya Yamaguchi / JRR JSB1000 7th F.C.C. TSR / JSB1000 / CBR1000RR / Takeshi Tsujimura / JRR JSB1000 11th KEIHIN Kohara Racing & TSR / JSB1000 / CBR1000RR / Shinichi Ito / JRR JSB1000 18th Kyubo.com Team HARC-PRO. / ST600 / CBR600RR / Yoshiteru Konishi / JRR ST600 Champion Racing Team Honey Bee / ST600 / CBR600RR / Hiroki Noda / JRR ST600 4th F.C.C. TSR / ST600 / CBR600RR / Satoru Iwata / JRR ST600 7th Burning Blood Racing Team / ST600 / CBR600RR / Makoto Inagaki / JRR ST600 10th DyDo MiU Racing Team / ST600 / CBR600RR / Hiromichi Kunikawa / JRR GP250 15th Burning Blood Racing Team / GP250 / RS250R / Takumi Takahashi / JRR GP250 2nd Team Project ·FRS / GP250 / RS250R / Syouya Tomizawa / JRR GP250 8th DyDo MiU Racing Team / GP125 / RS125R / Hiroomi Iwata / JRR GP125 Champion Team Project ·FRS / GP125 / RS125R / Hideyuki Nakajo / JRR GP125 4th 18 GARAGE RACING TEAM / GP125 / RS125R / Yuichi Yanagisawa / JRR GP125 6th TEAM PLUS ONE / GP125 / RS125R / Ryouta Yamada / JRR GP125 7th F.C.C. TSR / GP125 / RS125R / Hiroyuki Kikuchi / JRR GP125 8th RP Bike & YUE + Promathic-I / GP125 / RS125R / Yoshihiro Takeuchi / JRR GP125 10th TEAM PLUS ONE / GP-MONO / GPMR250X / Takayoshi Mori / JRR GP-MONO Champion MORIWAKI MOTUL Racing / GP-MONO / MD250H / Yasutomo Nomura / JRR GP-MONO 3rd * GP-MONO racing bikes are made by constructors using CRF250R engines. * This information is provisional and subject to change Major team/rider for All Japan Motocross Championship Team / Class / Bike / Rider / 2007 Result Honda DREAM RT / IA1 / CRF450R / Ryuichiro Takahama / JMX IA1 8th TEAM HAMMER / IA1 / CRF450R / Makoto Ogata / JMX IA1 11th TEAM BAS with ITOMO / IA1 / CRF450R / Yoshihide Fukudome / AMA Entry SEKI Racing MotoRoman / IA2 / CRF250R / Kouichi Fukaya / JMX IA2 7th SEKI Racing MotoRoman / IA2 / CRF250R / Yuui Hoshino / JMX IA2 15th TEAM BAS with ITOMO / IA2 / CRF250R / Toshiki Tomita / JMX IA2 24th SEKI Racing MotoRoman / IA2 / CRF250R / Hayato Deguchi / JMX IB-OPEN 3rd TEAM HAMMER / IA2 / CRF250R / Hikaru Matsushita / JMX IB-OPEN 5th Team HSF / IA2 / CRF250R / Yasuhiro Iinuma / JMX IB2 5th SEKI Racing MotoRoman / Ladies / CRF150R / Haruna Masu / JMX Ladies 2nd Honda DREAM Tarumi & BMC / Ladies / CRF150R / Izumi Yamamoto / JMX Ladies 5th * Ladies (Max engine displacement: 2st/85cc, 4st/150cc) * This information is provisional and subject to change Major team/rider for All Japan Trial Championship Team / Class / Bike / Rider / 2007 Result HRC CLUB TEAM MITANI / IAS / RTL260F / Tomoyuki Ogawa / JTR IAS Champion HRC CLUB Power Craft / IAS / RTL260F / Taichi Tanaka / JTR IAS 4th HRC CLUB Power Craft / IAS / RTL260F / Kazuhiro Onishi / JTR IAS 9th HRC CLUB TEAM MITANI / IAS / RTL260F / Takeshi Ogawa / JTR IAS 10th HRC CLUB TEAM MITANI / IAS / RTL260F / Fumihiko Komori / JTR IA 2nd HRC CLUB TEAM MITANI / IAS / RTL260F / Hideaki Mitani / JTR IA 3rd — / IA / RTL260F / Motoharu Honda / JTR IA 5th HRC CLUB Kantou SW Maruyama / IA / RTL260F / Kenji Takeya / JTR IA 6th HRC CLUB TEAM MITANI / IA / RTL260F / Yuuto Tanaka / JTR IA 8th * This information is provisional and subject to change Main Honda teams and riders participating in the World Superbike (WSB) Championship, the World Supersport (WSS) Championship, and the World Motocross Championship (WMX) with support provided by Honda Motor Europe Ltd. Taking part in the World Superbike (WSB) Championship as members of private teams supported by Honda Motor Europe Ltd. (HME), Honda’s overseas subsidiary, will be Ryuichi Kiyonari, winner of consecutive series championships in the British Superbike (BSB) Championship in 2006 and 2007, and Shuhei Aoyama, competitor in the 250cc class of the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix until last year and third recipient of the Honda Racing Scholarship, which was started in 2004 as a scholarship for fostering young Japanese rider talent. Also competing in the WSB as members of an HME-supported team are Carlos Checa, 2007 MotoGP participant as a member of a satellite team and Suzuka 8hours World Endurance Championship Race participant as a member of a works team, and Kenan Sofuoglu, far ahead of other riders as the runaway winner of the World Supersport (WSS) Championship in 2007. Jonathan Rea, who last year took the No. 2 spot in the BSB Championship behind champion and teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari will compete in the World Supersport (WSS) Championship, riding a CBR600RR as a member of the same team as Kiyonari, who will enter the WSB as already mentioned. HME will also support two teams racing in the World Motocross Championship (WMX). The teams feature riders Mike Brown, winner of the 2007 MX2 British Championship, Billy Mackenzie, winner of the 2007 MX1 British Championship, Julien Bill, winner of a number of Swiss championships, and Marc de Reuver, former 125cc Netherlands Championship champion. The four will ride CRF450Rs and participate in the MX1 class, the top class of WMX. Major team/rider for World Superbike Championship (WSB) Team / Class / Bike / Rider / 2007 Result Hannspree Ten Kate Team / WSB / CBR1000RR / Ryuichi Kiyonari / BSB (British Superbike) Champion Hannspree Ten Kate Team / WSB / CBR1000RR / Carlos Checa / MotoGP 14t Hannspree Ten Kate Team / WSB / CBR1000RR / Kenan Sofuoglu / WSS Champion Alto Evolution Honda Racing / WSB / CBR1000RR / Shuhei Aoyama / WGP 250cc 12th Alto Evolution Honda Racing / WSB / CBR1000RR / Luca Morelli / WSB 22nd Hannspree Althea / WSB / CBR1000RR / Roberto Rolfo / WSB 8th Team DFX Honda / WSB / CBR1000RR / Karl Muggeridge / WSB 16th Team DFX Honda / WSB / CBR1000RR / Russell Holland / AUC (Australian Superbike) 6th Paul Bird Motorsport / WSB / CBR1000RR / Gregorio Lavilla / BSB (British Superbike) 4th * This information is provisional and subject to change Major team/rider for World Supersport Championship (WSS) Team / Class / Bike / Rider / 2007 Result Hannspree Ten Kate Team / WSS / CBR600RR / Jonathan Rea / BSB (British Superbike) 2nd Hannspree Ten Kate Team / WSS / CBR600RR / Andrew Pitt / WSS 17th Hannspree Honda Althea / WSS / CBR600RR / Gianluca Nannelli / WSS 13th Hannspree Honda Althea / WSS / CBR600RR / Tommy Hill / WSS 22nd Hannspree Stiggy / WSS / CBR600RR / Robbin Harms / WSS 7th Hannspree Stiggy / WSS / CBR600RR / Joshua Brookes / WSS 28th * This information is provisional and subject to change Major team/rider for World Motocross Championship (WMX) Team / Class / Bike / Rider / 2007 Result CAS Honda / MX1 / CRF450R / Mike Brown / MX1 7th CAS Honda / MX1 / CRF450R / Billy Mackenzie / MX1 9th Martin Honda / MX1 / CRF450R / Marc de Reuver / MX1 14th Martin Honda / MX1 / CRF450R / Julian Bill / MX1 15th * This information is provisional and subject to change