Honda takes 2011 Constructor’s Championship in Australia

Honda Motor Company won a record-extending 60th Constructors Championship with the victory by Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda RC212V) in his home Grand Prix at Phillip Island. The points tally of 380 puts them out of reach from Yamaha in second place with two races remaining.

The 2011 MotoGP Constructors Championship was Honda’s 18th in the premier class – five in MotoGP and thirteen in 500cc – to add to the six 350cc titles, nineteen in the 250cc class, fifteen in the 125cc class, and two in the 50cc category. With Stoner’s ninth victory of the season, Honda riders have won 646 races, a number that’s sure to continue growing.

The march into the record books began 50 years ago with Australian Tom Phillis winning the 1961 125cc GP in Montjuich, Spain, the first of four wins that season that would take him and Honda to their first titles in truly epic fashion. Also winning his first title that year was a young Brit named Mike Hailwood, one of the many legendary riders who have successfully teamed with Honda.

In 1966, forty-five years ago Honda won its first Constructor 500cc title and also took all five solo Constructors Championships (50cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc and 500cc), a feat which was never matched. Honda came close in 1994, winning all three Constructors Championships (125cc, 250cc and 500cc).

In 1982, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) was born. In the seventh race of the season the new NS 3 cylinder machine won its first race with Freddie Spencer at the Belgian GP of Spa Francorchamps. In 1983, Freddie Spencer brought home the 500cc Rider´s Championship along with the second Constructor´s Title of the Top Class to Honda.

The roster of greats who rode Hondas to victory would take up pages. A partial list of the legends who contributed to both Constructor and Rider Championships for Honda includes Jim Redman, Phil Read, Mick Doohan, Max Biaggi, Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer, Alex Crivillé, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa, Ralph Bryans, and Daijiro Katoh. Now Casey Stoner joins this list.

Honda’s current roster of World Champions all contributed to the Constructors Championship which is calculated by the result of the highest placed motorcycle of a Constructor, according to the position in the race. Casey Stoner had Honda’s top result ten times. Despite missing four races due to injury, Dani Pedrosa was Honda’s top points-earner five times, and Andrea Dovizioso contributed one top finish. A Honda rider has finished first or second in every race so far this season. (Qatar – Stoner 25, Spain – Pedrosa 20, Portugal – Pedrosa 25, France – Stoner 25, Catalunya – Stoner 25, Great Britain – Stoner 25, Netherlands – Stoner 20, Italy – Dovizioso 20, Germany – Pedrosa 25, USA – Stoner 25, Czech Republic – Stoner 25, Indianapolis – Stoner 25, San Marino – Pedrosa 20, Aragon – Stoner 25, Motegi – Pedrosa 25, Australia – Stoner 25).

Honda is the most successful company in the history of road racing due to a perfect blend of the top riders combined with the best engineers and technology.

Honda is an engineering company, whose legendary and innovative machines have attracted the best in the world. Machines that are the creation of some of a brilliant engineering corps, which had the bikes over to the dedicated globe-trotting race technicians who are overseen by passionate team managers who demand, and receive, excellence. Men like Shuhei Nakamoto, the vice-president of Honda Racing Corporation, whose laser-like focus, brutal honesty, and selfless dedication were instrumental in bringing Honda the final Championship of the 800cc era.