Honda sets unofficial lap record at Hampton Downs

Among several Industry representatives riding the Honda CBR fleet of demonstrators around Hampton Downs at last weeks media day - Honda also took the opportunity to set a lap record of 2mins 09seconds for the smallest category of bike 50cc - using the CB50R replica Dream Racer.

Amazed onlookers heard the high revving 50cc racer coming before they saw it, unusual for a Honda CB Racer, you generally see them fly past you and then hear them whisper by! But at 14,000rpm the sound in this case travels faster up the straight than the bike doing 110kph. Still that’s not bad for 50cc!

The original 1961 racer managed 93mph, at the IOM TT championship, so there's more to come when an official record is attempted.

The two sessions managed to see Honda Motorcycles NZ own staff member Bruce Nielsen, a hobby bucket racer himself, sight the track for a few laps on the ABS Fireblade and then get two sessions out with the Classic bikes to whittle the lap down 5 seconds from the initial 2:14. A respectable time when you consider the 1000cc Superbikes were lapping around the 1min 20secs.

The Hampton Downs track is nearly ready and the short circuit is completed and worked well from the feedback of all the media. The track is a positive benefit to the industry and also being so different to the other North Island tracks should add to the venues and activities increasing access for track days alongside the existing Pukekohe, Taupo and Manfeild circuits which are so strong for Motorcycle racing: So long as the track remains available and open to ALL owners, clubs, makes and brands that is - hopefully the Australian ride school partnering Hampton organisers are not being given monopoly to the exclusion of the masses.

Honda Riders Club and Honda Dealers are running five Rider Development Track Days over the summer, two of which will be at Hampton Downs - check their website www.hondaridersclub.co.nz