2016 Honda CRF250R and CRF450R launched in Italy
Paulin, Bobryshev, Gajser and Zaragoza unveil 2016 Honda CRFs at MXGP of Italy
The 2016 Honda CRF450R and CRF250R were revealed on the weekend at the MXGP of Italy by Team HRC riders Gautier Paulin and Evgeny Bobryshev and Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser and Jorge Zaragoza.
Joining them in the reveal were HRC’s General Manager for MXGP Roger Harvey and Honda Motor Europe’s Off-Road Manager Davy Dousselaere.
The Motocross World Championship was an apposite host for the premiere, as the production models revealed draw much of their technological development from the factory machines proven in the heat of competition.
The 2016 machines represent further technical evolutions of two key models in Honda’s CRF line-up, which ranges from the youngster-friendly CRF50F through to the multiple Dakar stage winning CRF450 RALLY.
The CRF450R benefits from further improvements to suspension, damping and steering geometry, whilst the CRF250R also enjoys suspension improvements coupled to improved top-end power and torque developed in conjunction with HRC.
Both the new machines will were on public display throughout at Maggiora and will also feature at the following MXGP of Germany at Teutschenthal.
Gautier Paulin, Team HRC MXGP rider: “I had a standard 2015 CRF450R at home for riding which I really liked but when they changed it for a ’16 model I was really happy. I’ve had a few mornings riding the bike and it’s working awesome. The ’15 bike was good but the ’16 is ever better.”
Tim Gajser, Honda Gariboldi MX2 rider: “It’s great to be taking the covers off the new CRF250R. Last year it was a good bike but with the work on engine and suspension the 2016 bike is even better. I work so much with Honda and HRC on my race bike, and I’m really happy that the customer bikes also get some of this development to improve them even more too.”
