1962 – Winning the Isle of Man TT
Three years after our first entry, we claimed the top spot – in both the 125 and 250cc race. Honda had arrived, and in some style – we took the first five places in both classes.
Our name on the line
Reputations are forged on the racetrack. But our racing history began with a pen, back in 1954. A letter from our founder, Soichiro Honda, shared his dream of winning the toughest, most prestigious bike race in the world – the Isle of Man TT – with a bike bearing his name. He asked his employees to give everything they could to make it happen.
A statement of intent
“Let us bring together the full strength of Honda Motor Co.,” the letter implored.
It was the first time a Japanese bike would enter the TT – but not the last time we’d challenge the norm. For decades now, we’ve followed the letter’s instructions – pushing ourselves ever harder to conquer motorcycling’s fiercest arena.
Years of success
We’ve been racing a long time. We’ve earned and savoured multiple victories. But certain moments stand out.
1966 – World GP supremacy
Our ambition took us far beyond the Isle of Man. In 1966 we won every class of the World GP (the predecessor of today’s MotoGP). Whether a 50, 125, 250, 350 or 500cc, the best machine bore a Honda badge.
1977 – Daringly different
After a decade’s absence from the World GP, new regulations tempted us back. We fielded a four-stroke engine when two-strokes ruled, a daring move that didn’t pay off in points – but the technology won us new fans on public roads.
1983 – A famous season
A thrilling, season-long duel between Honda’s Freddie Spencer and Yamaha’s Kenny Roberts saw the Honda rider coming out on top by just two points –claiming Honda’s first constructor’s title since our comeback.
1985 – One rider, two cups
In 1985, Freddie Spencer entered not one, but two classes of the World GP – 250cc and 500cc. By the end of the season, he was World Champion in both.
2013 – A winning debut
Marc Márquez made his MotoGP debut on a Honda – going on to win the championship and become the youngest World Champion since Freddie Spencer in 1983.
2014 – A legend in the making
2014 saw Marquez leading the pack on a Honda once again, racking up a record-breaking 13 wins in a single season on his way to a second championship.
We dedicate our victories to you
We don’t race for the thrill of it. And it’s not for the glory.
The knowledge we gain on the track shapes the technology you’ll find on our Super Sport motorcycles (actually, all our motorcycles). So when you ride a Honda, you feel like a champion.
New ideas bring uncommon results
The NSR500 brought unconventional ignition technology to the track in 1992, with its ‘Big Bang’ engine powering what would become the dominant bike of the 1990s.
Vital statistics
The NSR500's supremacy was a reminder of engineering's importance to race success. Combined with gifted riders, it was unstoppable.
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Consecutive victories
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Wins in one season
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Constructor’s titles
Raising the bar
Only one bike could beat the NSR500 – and we made it.
When the World GP became MotoGP in 2002, we introduced the Honda RC211V. It stormed to the front on its debut season, winning both the rider’s and constructor’s championship. And it comfortably outpaced the NSR500, which was still raced by other teams. No regrets from us – then as now, we were focused on the future.
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