Honda Pulls Out of AMA Superbike
Honda pulls out of AMA Superbike
The manufacturer announced Sept. 18 it will not participate in the series, saying the current AMA/DMG racing environment does not align with our company goals.
Honda scaled back its AMA Pro Racing efforts in December 2008, pulling its factory program and contracting team resources including crew and contracted rider Neil Hodgson to the Corona Extra Honda team.
Hodgson finished 11th in the final American Superbike rider standings despite missing six races after suffering a collapsed lung in a motocross crash. Jake Holden joined the team during Hodgsons absence and finished the season with Corona Extra Honda in tenth place. The teams best result was Hodgsons second-place finish in the season-opening round at Daytona International Speedway.
Honda said in a release that the teams results in AMA Superbike racing did not meet our racing goals and objectives. Honda staff working for Corona Extra will not have their contracts renewed and all other assets will be put into storage for future consideration.
Hondas announcement only referred to its Superbike racing program. The status of the factory-supported Erion Honda Daytona Sportbike team is still unknown. Racers Jake Zemke and Chris Peris finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in the final rider standings with four podium results and a victory. Hondas Daytona Sportbike results were better than its American Superbike results but the statement about the AMA/DMG racing environment does not bode well for Erion Racing.
Related Reading
Honda withdraws from AMA Road Racing
Comments
Join the conversation