11/01/2023
Team HRC completes competition debut for the CR Electric Proto
Team HRC showed a race-leading demonstration of the pace of the new CR Electric Proto at round 8 of the All Japan Motocross Championship. The electric bike showed pace in qualifying, but race day brought mixed results.
Team Honda HRC advisor and test rider Trey Canard — racing as a wildcard entry — easily transferred his qualifying pace to go second-fastest on the all-electric #41, making its global competitive debut in the premier IA1 class against 450cc gas-powered machinery.
Then came the first-ever race for Honda’s new prototype machine. The opening race was smooth, with Canard starting strongly, settling into a rhythm and crossing the line second aboard the CR Electric Proto. As learning, development, and ultimately the pace continued to improve throughout the weekend, Canard closed to just 0.7 seconds off the fastest lap in the first moto.
In the second moto, Canard again started well and looked to be set to keep building on the weekend’s momentum, but an early crash with moto one rival Jay Wilson, unfortunately, put him out of the race.
Returning for the third moto, Canard made best use of the Honda’s instant electric torque and again started strongly, taking the lead exiting the first corner. HRC notes that Canard took two of the three holeshots on CR Electric Proto.
“This weekend was definitely a big challenge for me, but it was a great race for our development,” says test and development rider Trey Canard. “Each time I was on the track, we improved the motorcycle, and the CR Electric Proto team adapted to the challenge. We had some shines of brilliance as a team, with the starts being one of them, with two of the three holeshots. There were also some sections on the track that were very impressive, which makes me excited for the future of this motorcycle.”
Starting to stretch that lead from his weekend-long rival, the #27 of Wilson, it would have been the perfect culmination of the weekend’s learning and work on the CR Electric Proto to take the machine’s first win in its first-ever competitive weekend—but unfortunately, as the track continued to get more rutted, Canard crashed with more than 12 minutes remaining of the 15-minute race.
Nonetheless, HRC was satisfied with the results and the opportunity to learn, develop and prove the prototype machine in the heat of battle for the first time. Honda HRC says it was an encouraging debut for the CR Electric Proto—a weekend that has provided valuable data for the ongoing development of its all-electric motocross initiative.
Source: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
