Who can do more, can do less. It is in fact thanks to the entry category, Moto3, that the world's leading manufacturer has reached a milestone in its sporting history. Because not everyone can boast of 800 Grand Prix victories…
James Masia on the NSF250RW took a thrilling victory in the Teruel Grand Prix of Moto3, thus immortalizing the 800th victory of a rider Honda in the history of Grands Prix. Honda has written a long history since the Australian's first victory Tom phillis on the Honda RC143 during the 125cc Spanish Grand Prix of 1961, until today where James Masia completed a masterful race to cross the finish line, synonymous with the 800th victory of Honda. A feat that no other manufacturer has achieved.
After winning Honda's 100th different Grand Prix, farmhouse followed up with another victory with the Léopard Honda team. In 1954, the founder of Honda, Soichiro Honda, declared his entry into the Isle of Man TT, the biggest motorcycle race of the time, with the aim of becoming the best in the world. In 1959, Honda became the first Japanese motorcycle manufacturer to compete in the Isle of Man TT race.
The following year, in 1960, Honda began racing in the 125cc and 250cc categories and a year later, in 1961, Tom Phillis won the first Spanish Grand Prix of the season, and a story of success and victory began.
Honda would expand its racing program to include the 350cc and 50cc categories, with associated victories and titles. Success would continue until Honda ceased its factory racing activities, returning to the world stage in 1979 and achieving premier class success with Freddie spencer aboard the NS500 in 1982.
An impressive list
Now re-established as a Grand Prix powerhouse, Honda continued to achieve success in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc categories. Valentino Rossi took Honda's 500th victory with a thrilling display at the 2001 Japanese Grand Prix.
In 2002, the move to the four-stroke MotoGP category saw Honda achieve further victories and, at the 2015 Indianapolis Grand Prix, Marc Marquez achieved Honda's 700th victory. Sunday October 25, farmhouse reached a new milestone by winning its 800th victory, 66 years after the famous declaration of Soichiro Honda...
Honda's first Grand Prix victory
Tom Phillis, 125 1961cc Spanish GP, Honda RC143
Honda's 100th Grand Prix victory
Luigi Taveri, 1966 Dutch 50cc TT, Honda RC116
Honda's 200th Grand Prix victory
Jimmy Filice, 1988 US 250cc GP, Honda NSR250
Honda's 300th Grand Prix victory
Alex Criville, 1992 Dutch 500cc TT, Honda NSR500
Honda's 400th Grand Prix victory
Haruchika Aoki, 1996 Brazilian GP 125cc, Honda RS125R
Honda's 500th Grand Prix victory
Valentino Rossi, 2001 Japanese GP 500cc, Honda NSR500
Honda's 600th Grand Prix victory
Dani Pedrosa, 250 Australian GP 2005cc, Honda R250RW
Honda's 700th Grand Prix victory
Marc Marquez, 2015 Indianapolis MotoGP, Honda RC213V
Honda's 800th Grand Prix victory
Jaume Masia, 2020 Teruel Moto3, Honda NSF250RW
Takahiro hachigo, Chairman, CEO and Representative Director, Honda Motor Co commented on this impressive list: “I am proud of Honda’s 800th Grand Prix victory in the FIM World Championship. I am deeply grateful to Honda fans around the world for their contribution and unwavering support of Honda's racing activities.. I also want to thank all those who came before us for their passion and dedication in overcoming countless challenges and leading us from 1959 to today. Honda sees this moment as a landmark and will continue to fight for victory. We count on your continued support"
