American Honda Announces Racing Plans for 2011
Supercross and Motocross
American Honda is pleased to welcome Trey Canard and Josh Grant to the Honda Racing team for 2011 to contest both the AMA Supercross Championship and AMA Motocross Championship aboard Honda CRF450R race machines.
For 37 years Honda has amassed an unparalleled record in AMA Supercross and Motocross, winning more championships than any other manufacturer. Canard added to that tally in 2010 by winning the 250 Motocross Championship.
"Both Trey and Josh have shown great speed in the 450 competition," said Erik Kehoe, Honda Racing Team Manager. "Trey demonstrated his ability on the Honda CRF450R last year when he filled in for an injured rider and finished with five consecutive podiums. Josh has also shown huge potential in the 450 class since graduating from the 250 class, where he rode with the GEICO Powersports Honda team in 2008. We know he can win, as he has recorded wins in both 250 and 450 Supercross and Motocross classes, and we look forward to seeing what he can do aboard a Honda Racing–prepared CRF450R."
Since turning professional in 2007, Canard has enjoyed much success aboard his GEICO Powersports Honda CRF250R, winning the 2008 AMA Supercross Lites East Championship and 2010 AMA 250 Motocross Championship. Last month, Canard added Motocross of Nations Team Champion to his list of stellar career achievements, and he helped Team USA take the victory at the 2010 FIM Motocross of Nations in Lakewood, Colorado.
"As an amateur racer riding for the Factory Connection amateur team, it was my dream to one day make it onto the Honda factory team, and to be given this opportunity now is a real honor," said Canard. "I’ve been a part of Honda’s racing program for a long time in both my amateur and professional careers. I’m pumped to be able to continue that relationship into the big-bike class."
After racking up multiple Supercross and Motocross Lites wins aboard his Honda CRF250R, including winning the U.S. Open of Supercross, Grant transitioned well to the big-bike class, winning the 2009 Anaheim Supercross opener. He went on to earn two more podiums and finish fourth in the series points, as well as take two podiums and an overall win in 450 Motocross competition that year. Hindered by injuries during 2010, Grant bounced back to score a Motocross race win and secure his first-ever X Games Supercross gold medal.
"It feels really good to be back on a Honda, the brand that I started my amateur and professional careers with," said Grant. "I’m ready to get started working with the Honda Racing Team as we prepare for the 2011 Supercross series."
Two-time Women’s Motocross Champion Fiolek finished runner-up in the 2010 WMA Championship, and for 2011 will be back to contest the WMA championship on a Honda.
"I’m so happy to be a part of the Honda family for the third year" said Fiolek. "The support I receive from everyone at Honda is awesome, and I love riding the CRF250R. Last year the women’s competition really stepped it up and the racing was tough every week. I look forward to stepping it up even further in 2011 and going for that third title."
Official SX/MX Honda support teams for 2011 include GEICO Powersports Honda and Troy Lee Designs Honda. The GEICO Powersports Honda team experienced tremendous success in both the 2010 AMA Supercross and Motocross series, winning the 250 Motocross Championship and finishing runner-up in the Supercross and Supercross Lites East Championships. Returning to the team’s starting lineup to contest the AMA Supercross Championship and select Motocross events aboard his CRF450R is Honda racing veteran Kevin Windham. Justin Barcia, Blake Wharton, Eli Tomac and Wil Hahn will contest both the 250 Supercross and Motocross competitions aboard their CRF250Rs, while talented amateur racer Justin Bogle makes his professional debut with the team in the Motocross Championship, also racing a CRF250R.
Troy Lee Designs Honda took the runner-up spot in the Supercross Lites West Championship and enjoyed multiple podium finishes in the 450 Motocross class before finishing the season fourth in the points. Cole Seely returns for his second season in the 250 competition with the team aboard Honda’s CRF250R, and joining him in the 250 class are team newcomers Travis Baker and Christian Craig, also racing CRF250Rs.
Honda welcomes multiple AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross Champion Chad Reed and his newly formed TwoTwo Motorsports team to the Honda fold in 2011. With the support of Honda’s industry-leading Red Riders Reward program, Reed will contest the 2011 Supercross competition aboard Honda’s CRF450R. "For me Honda makes the most sense," said Reed. "It’s what I would call a racer’s bike in that it is very light and very nimble, and it just fits my style very well. I’m excited to be riding Honda motorcycles and to have Honda’s support with the program."
Off-Road
Honda continues its support for off-road racing powerhouse team Johnny Campbell Racing (JCR) in 2011. Aboard Honda CRF450X and CRF450R race machines, JCR riders dominated the competition in 2010, winning the AMA National Hare & Hound title and AMA District 37 Championship along with all three SCORE Baja events—the 250, 500 and Baja 1000. "JCR is excited to continue its partnership with Honda," said 11-time Baja 1000 champion Johnny Campbell, JCR team owner. "2010 was a very successful year for JCR with the team winning a number of off-road racing titles and also Honda’s 14th Baja 1000 victory, and we look forward to another winning season in 2011 with Honda."
ATV
Joe Byrd Racing returns for its sixth season as the official support team for Honda in the 2011 AMA Pro ATV Motocross National Championship. Representing Honda in the Pro, Pro Am and Production A classes, the team has won multiple titles over the years and will continue racing Honda’s TRX450R in the ATV competition. "I’ve really enjoyed working with Honda over the years because we share the same professionalism and work ethic toward winning on and off the track," said Joe Byrd, champion Honda racer and Joe Byrd Racing Team Owner. "Honda has treated me like family since day one, and I couldn’t see myself riding anything else. I look forward to 2011 and another exciting year of racing."
Contingency Support
In 2011, Honda will continue its industry-leading contingency program. The Red Rider Rewards program will support racing all across the United States by offering contingency payouts to a wide range of Honda-mounted professional and amateur racers during the 2011 race season.
About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and personal watercraft in the U.S. American Honda’s Motorcycle Division conducts the sales, marketing and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to powersports.honda.com
