Honda Worldwide | MotoGP | The secrets behind the RC-V Series

The RC-V Series bikes have always been designed from scratch for the MotoGP, the world's premier motorcycle race.
The RC211V made its debut in 2002, replacing the NSR500. In 2007, we introduced the all-new RC212V, which we raced until 2011.
Major changes in race regulations for 2012 resulted in the introduction of our first new model in five years, the RC213V.
Only a very small number of top-class MotoGP riders have the skill to handle these bikes.
These are truly special machines, assembled by hand and using many specialized parts. But they have one big thing in common with the Honda road bike you own – the main focus of the engineers who develop them is always the needs of their riders.

This was Honda's MotoGP bike for the 800cc era (2007 to 2011).
Bike and riders bettered their performance year by year: in both 2007 and 2008 Honda won two races, then three in 2009, four in 2010, and finally 2011 gave us the triple title – Riders, Team and Constructors, with 13 wins out of 18 races.

Meet the RC212V riders – our "users" in the 2011 Season

Casey Stoner

MotoGP Class Champion 2007 & 2011
Born: 16 October 1985
Nationality: Australian
Height: 171cm
Weight: 58kg

Dani Pedrosa

GP250 Class Champion 2005
Born: 29 September 1985
Nationality: Spanish
Height: 160cm
Weight: 51kg

Andrea Dovizioso

GP125 Class Champion 2004
Born: 23 March 1986
Nationality: Italian
Height: 165cm

Marco Simoncelli

(Deceased)

GP250 Class Champion 2008
Born: 20 January 1987
Nationality: Italian
Height: 183cm
Weight: 72kg

Hiroshi Aoyama

GP250 Class Champion 2009
Born: 25 October 1981
Nationality: Japanese
Height: 165cm
Weight: 55kg

Toni Elias

Moto2 Class Champion 2010
Born: 26 March 1983
Nationality: Spanish
Height: 163cm
Weight: 57kg

The first of Honda's MotoGP series made its debut in 2002, the year when GP500 was replaced by MotoGP. Featuring a highly original V-5 engine, this bike just kept improving over the years, winning the championship in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006.

More detailed info on RC211V
> Evolution of the RC211V > 48 Victories

Honda's new MotoGP bike mounting the 1000cc engine for the 2012 season.
Our development team's hope is to win the championship in their bike's debut year.