In Moto3, Honda’s new NSF250RW competes against rival manufacturers. The four-stroke entry class, with machines powered by strictly controlled 250cc four-stroke engines, is in its third year, and the racing is dependably fiercely competitive and breathtakingly exciting.

Honda’s new NSF250RW has played a leading role in the opening rounds, with at least one and often two Honda riders on all five podiums, and the first win within touching distance after a series of inch-close battles.

Top Honda scorer is Spanish veteran Efren Vazquez (SaxoPrint RTG Honda), lying a close third overall with three podium finishes including second in round four at Jerez. Vazquez was fighting for victory two weeks later at Le Mans in France when a controversial last lap attack by another rider pushed him wide and dropped him to sixth, his worst result so far. The Spaniard reliably coaxes the best top speed out of Honda, and is relishing the prospect of Mugello’s long straight.

Two Spanish Estrella Galicia 0,9 Honda team-mates have also been strong front runners, with Alex Rins one place and one point behind Vazquez after a best-so-far second at Le Mans. Racing out of the same pit is Marc Marquez’s younger brother Alex, fifth overall, with a pair of second places in the opening rounds.

French rider Alexis Masbou (Ongetta-Rivacold Honda) is in the thick of a big battle for the remaining top-ten positions, currently a close ninth, with a best of sixth in a perfect points-scoring record this year. John McPhee (SaxoPrint RTG) is 12th in a strong second season; and Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Ongetta-AirAsia Honda) lies 19th after adding five points to his total in France.

 

Moto3 Honda Rider Quotes

 

Saxoprint-RTG Honda rider Efren Vazquez
“I am looking forward to getting back on the track, to work with more determination than ever. After the incident at Le Mans I am hungrier than ever: I had the win in my hands, but it slipped from my fingers. If I have the same opportunity in Italy, I will not miss the chance this time. I want to thank my whole team and also Honda. At Le Mans they gave me a bike that was capable of winning, but it was not so. I promise this will not happen again.”

Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda rider Alex Rins
“Mugello is a tricky circuit and we don’t know yet how the Honda is going to perform there. However, from Friday onwards we shall be working like we did at Jerez and Le Mans to try to get the same results ? or even better. We go there with an improved Honda after the private test at MotorLand, and I hope that we can take another step forward at Mugello.”

Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda rider Alex Marquez
“Mugello has fast corners and ones taken at medium speed, and I think that this could be good for the Honda this year. Last season was my first Italian GP and I placed fifth in the race. I think that Mugello is one of the most difficult circuits on the calendar; last year I found it tough to ride on the Friday, but by Sunday I was up into the leading group and had a good race ? so this year I am feeling good about the weekend. After two races in which we’ve struggled a little, I want to go back to being competitive and out in front again.”

Source: Honda Racing