HONDA MARKS 60 YEARS IN GRAND PRIX RACING WITH MOTEGI LIVERY

Honda will mark 60 years since its premier-class debut with a special livery at the Japanese MotoGP, with its RC213V machines set to carry the design at Motegi on Sunday.

The anniversary dates back to 1966, when Honda entered the 500cc class. Mike Hailwood finished runner-up in the championship on the RC181, while team-mate Jim Redman won the first two races. Honda claimed five victories across the nine-round season. The manufacturer then left the 500cc category from 1968 until 1979, before Freddie Spencer secured its first premier-class title in 1983. Honda has since won a record 21 titles; Marc Marquez was its most recent champion, in 2019.

The team’s line-up for the Japanese round differs from its usual pairing. Luca Marini will ride for the factory squad, while Somkiat Chantra returns to MotoGP in place of the recovering Joan Mir. Chantra will use number 15, the number Cal Crutchlow rode earlier this season. Mir and Chantra are among the HRC riders scheduled to race in the anniversary colours.

Honda will also have a fifth RC213V on the grid for home wildcard Takaaki Nakagami. The Japanese rider stood in for Mir at the previous round in Austria.