How often, when riding a new sports bike, have we said, “What a cracking 250 (or Powersport, or Supersport, depending on the bike) racer this would make - all it needs is a pipe and a body kit.”
But that's usually as far as it goes, because one (or two, or three) bikes do not a racing class make.
But when somebody at Honda SA realised that the new CBR250R could be seriously competitive in 250cc Production Class racing, which has until now been the preserve of little green meanies, they did more than develop a kit and advertise it to would-be racers.
They built no less than 10 bikes - thus ensuring that there would always be enough starters for the results to count for championship points - and invited up-and-coming young riders to race them in last weekend's Northern Regions meeting at the Red Star circuit.
CLOSE RACING
And it worked: in the end there were 10 Hondas and just three Kawasaki 250 Ninjas on the grid, but the racing was frenetic, with the riders tangling elbows and bashing fairings through each of Red Star's 13 corners in a display of close racing that had older spectators comparing it to the glory days of 250cc Grands Prix.
Overall honours for the day's two races went to one of the experienced Ninja riders - but he was followed home by a tight formation of seven Hondas, jostling for position all the way to the line.
In typical racing style, Honda SA's Dave Gunning was full of plans for 'next time'.
“We can make some small changes to the suspension set-up and gearing,” he said, “and we should have that Kawasaki in our crosshairs at the second round of the series.”
He sees the 250cc Production Class as the perfect next step for riders progressing from the tightly-contested 150cc Class, but who don't feel ready for the huge jump to 600 Supersport's four-cylinder, 85kW+ rocketships - or as an cost-effective introduction for new riders entering the sport.
SEALED ENGINES
The CBR250R comes with a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, twin-cam four-valve single that has a reputation in its native Thailand for robustness and a broad spread of power throughout its rev range.
Class rules mandate that the engines be sealed (which usually makes for ultra-close racing!) allowing only the fitment of race body kit, an aftermarket performance exhaust and air filter, and a slight update for the suspension, all of which is available in a race “kit”; the only thing you need to add is your racing number!
The original 10 bikes will continue to be available through the Honda Racing Academy on a subscription basis, or you can buy your own race-kitted CBR250R from a participating Honda dealer at what Gunning is promising will be a very discounted price.
As you read this, IOL Motoring has a CBR250R with the (very authoritative) Yoshimura racing exhaust, but otherwise street legal, on test. Look out for our road test story, coming soon to a computer near you.