Posts tagged honda
Toyota finally quits F1
Nov 4th
Toyota has confirmed that it is pulling out of Formula 1 - The world’s largest car manufacturer will concentrate on its core business. The team failed to win any of the 139 races it entered after making its F1 debut in 2002 but was fifth in the 2009 constructors’ championship… this despite having one of the biggest budgets in the premier class. Toyota’s withdrawal leaves the sport with no Japanese team after Honda left F1 at the start of the 2009 season. They become the third manufacturer to quit the sport in the last 11 months after BMW announced it was leaving in July. Honda were of course replaced by BrawnGP, who went on to win this year’s drivers’ championship with Jenson Button and the constructors’ championship… again congratulations to all the team in Brackley, UK – an amazing ‘fairy tale’ happy ending.
Maybe this is ‘back to the future’ for F1 – more independent teams and less ‘manufacturers’ – with Lotus (where Trulli may be headed??), Manor, USGP and Campos racing to make the 2010 grid… who will be next to join the fray? Maybe F1 is beginning a new era.
2009 Dirt Bike Show at Stoneleigh Park
Nov 4th
If you’re into motocross then there’s only one place to be, that’s the 10th anniversary Dirt Bike Show at Stoneleigh Park from November 5-8th
Playboy gets Randy
Apr 1st
MotoGP team LCR Honda, the Honda satellite team managed by former rider Lucio Cecchinello, will be sponsored by Playboy for the first half of the season. The deal comes as the magazine relaunches in Italy, and will see Playboy’s bunny logo on LCR Honda rider Randy de Puniet’s bike and leathers. www.motogp.com
American Honda signs Ashley Fiolek to the 2009 Honda Red Bull Racing
Jan 16th
2008 WMA Women’s Motocross Champion Ashley Fiolek has joined the Honda Red Bull Racing factory team. Fiolek will join Honda Red Bull teammates Andrew Short, Ivan Tedesco, Davi Millsaps and Ben Townley, and will defend her WMA title in 2009 on Honda’s CRF250R. Fiolek’s signing with Honda Red Bull Racing marks an historic milestone for the industry as the 18-year-old champion is the first female athlete in history to be signed with Honda’s factory team.Fiolek made her full-season professional racing debut in 2008, winning the AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross Championship in her first attempt and will represent the Honda Red Bull Racing team in the 2009 WMA Championship, X-Games 15 competition and other select events. Born profoundly deaf, Ashley began riding and racing motorcycles at age seven and worked her way up the amateur Motocross ranks; winning more than 100 races in her career so far, including winning six races in the 2008 AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross Championship to win her first professional title. www.ashleyfiolek.com www.racerxonline.com www.redbull.com
TATA sees red in F1
Dec 18th
The Tata brand announces a sponsorship deal between Ferrari F1 team and Tata Consultancy Services. Tata will join Marlboro, Shell, Alice, Acer, AMD, Etihad Airways and Martini as team partners for the 2009 season.
“It’s historic! For the first time an Indian brand will appear on the Ferrari,” president Luca di Montezemolo stated in the Italian media. TCS has been a technology partner of Ferrari Formula One since 2005 providing software.
This sponsorship deal comes at a time when Formula One has announced a series of cutbacks to ease financial pressures, which were highlighted by Honda pulling out from the sport earlier in December, but also illustrates the attraction of F1 on the back of the recent LG deal. www.business-standard.com