Hayden's First SBK Test + Video & Honda's 2016 Race Teams + Video

Tom Roderick
by Tom Roderick

In Honda’s video announcement from the EICMA show in Milan there’s no mention of Nicky Hayden or Honda’s 2016 WSBK team. Maybe that’s because the team was testing at Aragon, we’re not sure. So here’s a video from Nicky Hayden’s first ride aboard his new weapon. The press release for Honda’s 2016 race teams is below, as is the video announcement from EICMA.

Press Release:

In the 2015 season, Honda participated in eight classes in six categories of Motorcycle World Championship racing, and the Dakar 2015. In the FIM Trial World Championship Series, Toni Bou achieved an unprecedented 9th consecutive championship title. Tim Gajser won his first championship in the FIM Motocross World Championship Series MX2 class, as did Danny Kent in the MotoGP FIM Road Racing World Championship Series Moto3 class.

Honda’s 2016 Participation in Motorcycle World Championship Racing

MotoGP
Honda aims to win back the MotoGP class title, with double-world champion (2013 / 2014) Marc Márquez, and 11-year MotoGP class veteran Dani Pedrosa riding for Honda’s factory team on 2016 RC213V factory machines. With Cal Crutchlow (CWM LCR Honda), and Jack Miller (MARC VDS Racing Team) and Tito Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) also riding 2016 RC213Vs, Honda aims to win the “Triple Crown”; the riders’, constructors’, and team titles.

Moto3
Victorious in the 2015 season, Honda will compete in the Moto3 class with 2016 model NSF250RW factory machines. Eleven riders, including Enea Bastianini (3rd in 2015 season) and Niccolò Antonelli (4th in 2015 season) will aim to give Honda its third consecutive championship title.

WSBK
Honda World Superbike Team, supported by Honda Motor Europe Ltd. (Honda’s European regional headquarters), will compete in the series with 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden and 2014 World Supersport Champion Michael van der Mark riding CBR1000RR machines.

WSS
The Honda World Superbike Team, supported by Honda Motor Europe Ltd., will compete in the Supersport series with Kyle Smith riding the CBR600RR machine.

Dakar 2016
In its fourth year after returning to the Dakar, Honda’s factory team “Team HRC,” armed with the 2016 CRF450 Rally factory machines, will once again be represented by ace rider Joan Barreda and Dakar 2015 runner-up Paulo Goncalves, joined by Michael Metge, Paolo Ceci and Ricky Brabec. Team HRC is out to win Honda’s first title in 27 years, since its Paris Dakar victory in 1988.

AMA Supercross
Honda’s factory team “Team Honda HRC” will aim for a more successful season in 2016, with Cole Seely, winner of 1 race prix in his rookie year, and Trey Canard, winner of 2 races despite fighting injuries, riding CRF450Rs to challenge for the title.

Trial World Championship
Honda aims to claim an unprecedented 11th consecutive constructors’ title and 10th consecutive riders’ title, with nine-time consecutive champion Toni Bou, 21-year WCT veteran Takahisa Fujinami, and this season rising star Jaime Busto riding COTA4RT factory machines for Honda’s factory team, “Repsol Honda Team.”

MXGP
In the MXGP class, Honda just missed out on taking the title this year, with Gautier Paulin finishing 2nd in the 2015 season, and Evgeny Bobryshev ranked 3rd. In 2016, Paulin and Bobryshev will continue to represent Honda’s factory team, “Team HRC”. 2015 MX2 World Champion Tim Gajser will join the premier class, racing for Team Honda Gariboldi Racing. All three riders will aim to win the championship on the 2016 CRF450RW factory machine. HRC rider Kei Yamamoto will ride a CRF450R to compete in the class for Team Assomotor Honda.

MX2
In the MX2 class, Honda aims to defend its 2015 title with 19 year old Jorge Zaragoza racing for the championship team, Team Honda Gariboldi Racing, on a factory machine CRF250RW.

Tom Roderick
Tom Roderick

A former Motorcycle.com staffer who has gone on to greener pastures, Tom Roderick still can't get the motorcycle bug out of his system. And honestly, we still miss having him around. Tom is now a regular freelance writer and tester for Motorcycle.com when his schedule allows, and his experience, riding ability, writing talent, and quick wit are still a joy to have – even if we don't get to experience it as much as we used to.

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