Honda to introduce Moto3-spec NSF250R race prototypes in national racing
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has just announced a major step forward for Indian motorsport aspirants. The company will be bringing its Honda Racing Corporation (HRC)-developed Moto3-spec Honda NSF250R race prototype to India in 2019 as a step-up from its current one-make talent series in the national motorcycle racing circuit. Honda is looking to speed up the identification and development of young talent with their access to this race machine. The youngsters identified by them could then go on to represent the manufacturer and the country at international competitions including the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) 2018, round 4 of which was recently concluded at Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT), Chennai.
Honda Racing India will bring 10 NSF250R machines to India, the import process for which is already on. Starting 2019, it will identify young racers from its Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup who currently race its CBR250R and CBR150R production bikes in the one-make race series as well as those from the national motorcycle racing championship. These racers will be trained for the NSF and subsequently compete in a separate series on the NSF machines. Those riders who shine out in this series, will be selected to represent the team in various Asia-level and international competitions. The final goal is to send a rider to Moto3.
The motorcycleThe Honda NSF250R is HRC's race prototype and has been raced in FIM Moto3 championship. It features incredible mass centralisation, a high-output 249cc engine, and most importantly is super light. The NSF250R tips the scales at about 84kg. For comparison, the Honda Navi weighs 101kg (kerb). Its 249cc four-stroke single cylinder motor has a RAM air intake system and produces 47.5PS and 28NM. Add to that its light kerb weight, and you get a power-to-weight ratio of 565PS per tonne.
At presentThe Idemitsu Honda Racing India team by T-Pro Ten10 Racing became the first solo team from India to participate in the ARRC, this season. Indian racers Anish D Shetty and Rajiv Sethu compete for the team in the Asia Production 250 category in the ARRC. The team also has 19-year-old Japanese racer Taiga Hada competing in ARRC's premier SuperSport 600 (SS600) class. He had a great outing this past weekend at MMRT, picking up two podiums in two races.
In addition, Honda has created three teams to further promote these racers at the international level. The Honda Asia Dream Racing team will compete in the historic Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race and JSB1000 class of All Japan Road Race Championship, the premier road racing championship in Japan. The second team, IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia is a platform for Asian riders in Moto2 and Honda Team Asia in Moto3 class of FIM Road Racing Championship.