By Simon Hargreaves
This year’s International Dirt Bike Show, set in the grounds of Stoneleigh Park near Coventry, was the perfect chance for off-road fans of all ages to check out Honda’s exciting new CRF line-up, meet Honda racing legends of the past, present and future, and catch up on the latest news from the world of off-road. And, with Honda’s My First Licence riding school, there was even a chance for youngsters to get started on two wheels.
For show-goers interested in the latest and greatest metal, Honda’s display of machinery was formidable. The dual purpose VFR800X Crossrunner and 1200cc Crosstourer adventure bikes stood in the shadow of their great grandfather, an immaculate 1988 Africa Twin – itself now reinvented in the form of the new 2016 Africa Twin launched at the EICMA Milan bike show this month. And the genuine Dakar article, Joan Barreda’s CRF450 Rally, took pride of place on the opposite side of the display.
For hard-core dirt aficionados the rest of the Honda stand was dominated by the new CRF250R and 450R motocross bikes. The CRF enduro range was also a draw, featuring the existing X and road-legal XRL models, but now with the new competition-spec road-legal 250 and 450RE to bring even more choice to the line-up. And there were plenty of racing Hondas to admire, including nine times Trials World Champion Toni Bou’s Montesa Cota 4RT260 trials bike, alongside the Cota 4RT260 factory bike.
But the Dirt Bike Show wasn’t just about big, grown-up off-road bikes; there were things to see and do for younger Honda fans too. In an adjoining hall a queue of riders between the ages of five to 11 all waited for a supervised ride on a Honda CRF50F at the My First Licence riding school. The youngsters, kitted-out in helmet, jacket and body armour, earned a special certificate as well as learning invaluable lessons of machine control and even road awareness.
And if the budding talent needed any inspiration, the Dirt Bike Show also gave them a chance to meet Honda’s national motocross riders for 2016, an impressive cast list of talent headed by Honda Racing Corporation’s MXGP general manager and motocross legend Roger Harvey, and run by another off-road giant, the team manager of Buildbase Honda, Dave Thorpe. Introducing the riders for 2016, Thorpe said, “We entered three championships last year, and we won two of them – the MX Nationals and the Pirelli Masters. We fell short in the Maxxis because of injuries, but overall that’s not a bad season.”
For 2016, Thorpe’s Buildbase team returns stronger than ever, featuring up-and-coming Irishman Graeme Irwin alongside Kristian Whatley in MX1 on the CRF450R, young star Lewis Trickett in MX2 on the CRF250R, and Honda UK Rookie Jack Bintcliffe.
The biggest name at the show though was 23-times Isle of Mann TT winner John McGuiness, a rider best known for his on-road antics, but secretly a huge off-road enthusiast.
‘Off-road was my first love when I was a youngster and got put on a 50cc when I was three by my dad, and I’m still a fan now,’ said McGuiness. ‘I’m lucky enough to ride plenty of motocross and I know some of the Honda boys so I get out to ride with them when I can. I’m not very good at it but I thoroughly enjoy it. Dave Thorpe has just built me a full-bling CRF and I can’t wait to try it. I was riding at his school down in Wales – I highly recommend it, bit of motocross, bit of trail riding in the middle of nowhere, then some scrambling; super day out.”
