Published On: October 24, 2011

HThe Honda World Motocross team travelled to Japan to test the 2012 factory CRF450R. Because nothing beats a race test, Rui Gonçalves and Evgeny Bobryshev were also at the start in Sugo for a round of the Japanese championship. The new CRF450R had a successful baptism of fire as Gonçalves won the overall classification. Rui was third in the first moto and dominated the second moto. Bobryshev was second in both motos, with Akira Narita third.

Boby and his teammate will complete an intensive 5-day testing schedule in Japan that will provide Honda Japan engineers with input to evaluate the spectacular 2012 prototype.

Rui Goncalves: “It was a feeling to win with the bike. Actually, it had been since I last rode a race in Mont-Saint Guibert. In the beginning I was quite stiff. In the second series it went much smoother and that paid off.”

Evgeny Bobryshev: “My race results weren't great! I suffered from arm pump in the first moto and in the second I even twisted my knee twice. The schedule of the Japanese championship is very compact and you have little time to get used to the conditions. But it was certainly a very important test for the new bike and we are very happy with this basis; this bike is really special! I can't wait to find out more in the coming days.”

Photo credit: Honda