Honda Motor Europe France and Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) played host to two landmark events celebrating the past, present and future of motorcycle racing, bringing together legendary riders, modern competitors and an evocative array of bikes at two major events in France.
The French round of the 2026 MotoGP season at Le Mans, and the Sunday Ride Classic 2026, highlighted Honda’s enduring racing DNA while showcasing a new chapter in its road-going lineage.
Headlining the events was two-time World Champion Freddie Spencer, whose historic 1985 season, when he simultaneously claimed both the 500cc and 250cc world titles, remains one of the greatest achievements in Motorcycle Grand Prix history, sometimes involving sprinting from the podium of one race to the starting line of the next. Now, 41 years on, Spencer returned to the spotlight alongside iconic machinery and a new generation of Honda innovation.
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The celebration coincides with the introduction of Honda’s new CB1000F, a striking modern machine drawing clear design and engineering inspiration from the legendary CB750 Daytona. Both bikes, alongside Spencer’s championship-winning NSR500, were showcased throughout the event weekends, underlining Honda’s philosophy that heritage is not static, but alive and evolving.
“The 1985 NSR500 changed everything,” Spencer reflected. “It redefined how we approached geometry, testing, and rider connection. Riding it again feels like going home. It’s more than a bike. It’s part of me, and it shaped generations of racing machines after it.”
The NSR500, Honda’s first V4 two-stroke Grand Prix machine, established a technical blueprint that continues today in the current MotoGP RC213V . Spencer’s success on its debut version paved the way for the model to become one of the most dominant bikes in racing history.
Joining Spencer at Le Mans was Ana Carrasco, Honda World Supersport rider, 2018 World Supersport 300 Champion, and the first female rider to win a motorcycle circuit world championship. Carrasco, who has more than 80 Moto3 GP starts, represents the modern face of Honda racing.
“I feel more nervous about riding this bike than I do before a race,” Carrasco admitted ahead of her opportunity to ride the NSR500. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Today we rely on data and electronics. But with this machine, it’s all about feeling and connection. That’s a real challenge, and a privilege.”
The events also shone a spotlight on Honda’s engineering heritage, with key figures from the Honda Collection Hall giving insight into the painstaking work required to preserve and operate these historic machines. The Collection Hall, established in 1998, houses more than 150 display vehicles, alongside hundreds more race and production bikes in storage, all maintained to operational condition.
Project leader Fujii-san explained: “Our goal is to keep history alive – not only to display these machines, but to run them. Some bikes can be restored in months, others take years. But the philosophy is the same: Ensure every motorcycle remains a living example of Honda engineering.”
That commitment was echoed by veteran engineer Waguri-san, who began his career in the 500cc era. “In those days, there were no manuals,” he explained. “We rely on original drawings and handwritten notes from engineers of the past. Passing that knowledge to the next generation is essential to keeping these bikes alive.”
The contrast between past and present engineering was further explored by Ujino-san, a former Repsol Honda MotoGP mechanic and still a member of HRC’s development team. He highlighted how modern machinery relies heavily on data analysis, whereas earlier eras demanded instinct and sensory awareness.
“Today, we have telemetry and sealed engines,” he said. “In the two-stroke era, mechanics needed to read the bike – its sound, vibration, even the smell. It required a completely different level of understanding.”
The events and demonstration runs also emphasised the continuity between Honda’s racing heritage and its future. Spencer recently rode the new CB1000F in Japan and believes it embodies the same rider-focused philosophy.
“What impressed me most was the connection,” he said. “You can feel the lineage, but with modern technology, stability, and forgiveness. Honda has always built bikes that allow riders to push to the limit and bring it back. The CB1000F carries that forward beautifully.”
Throughout the two events, fans were invited to experience this unique blend of past and present, with the 27YM CB1000F on display, and demonstrations runs of the NSR500 and CB750, and meet-and-greets for fans with Spencer.
Honda Motor Europe France’s Julian Muntzer, who helped organise the events, emphasised the broader purpose: “This is about more than nostalgia. It’s about showing how our history continues to influence today’s engineering. These bikes are not relics; they actively contribute to Honda’s identity.”
As MotoGP continues to evolve with advanced electronics and increasingly close competition, the event served as a reminder of the sport’s origins and the ingenuity that shaped it.
Carrasco summed up the importance of the occasion: “For today’s riders and fans, understanding this history is essential. Seeing these bikes run, feeling their presence – it connects us to everything that came before.”
With one eye firmly on the future and the other proudly on its past, both events delivered a powerful message: innovation may drive progress, but heritage fuels the journey.
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About Honda Motorcycles
Honda is the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda. The company is known for producing reliable, high-quality motorcycles and is the world’s largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines. Honda’s early focus on reliable four-stroke engines and innovative designs, like the highly successful Super Cub, helped it become a global leader in the industry.
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Original post on modernclassicbikes.co.uk and published by Frank Duggan. Frank is the Founder and Editor of Modern Classic Motorcycle News, an independent motorcycle publication covering modern classic motorcycles, roadsters, scramblers, cruisers, electric motorcycles and the wider motorcycle industry.
