American Honda announces motorcycle racing teams for 2002

Las Vegas, NV $B!>(B American Honda announced their 2002 Motorcycle Racing Teams at
the company's annual dealer show Wednesday night, September 19 at the MGM Grand
in Las Vegas.

Motorcycle Division Vice President Ray Blank said, "Motorcycling is really about
performance, and the ultimate yardstick is racing. For 2002, our race teams will
literally define Performance First. Their success is very important to Honda's
research and development. And it's important to our customers, who know that
Honda builds and races the best products in the world."


Honda racing teams have amassed 90 motocross, Supercross, roadracing and
off-road championships in AMA competition, more than any other manufacturer.


Supercross and motocross racing


The Honda Motocross Team welcomes the 2001 American Motorcyclist Association's
(AMA) Supercross and National Motocross Champion Ricky Carmichael to the Red
Riders for 2002! The seven-time AMA Champion will lead the Honda charge on
Honda's all-new CR250R. Carmichael's introduction to the enthusiastic dealers
foretells Honda's dominance in the upcoming 2002 Supercross and motocross
seasons.


Sebastien Tortelli returns to the Honda, hungry to capture the 250-series
outdoor championship that eluded him in the 2001 season. Though Tortelli is
known for his outdoor motocross expertise, he is also a legitimate Supercross
championship contender and his hard-charging race ethic should earn him many
victories next season.


Two more motocross talents join the factory Red Rider effort for 2002. 2001 AMA
Western Region 125cc Supercross Champion Ernesto Fonseca will campaign a CR250R
in both AMA Supercross and outdoor motocross for 2002. Honda Racing also
welcomes Nathan Ramsey, 1999 Western Region 125cc Supercross Champion who will
race Honda's vaunted CRF450R four-stroke motocrosser in both series.


Ironman Mike LaRocco will Ride Red again in 2002 aboard a Honda CR250R, racing
for the Factory Connection Team. Mike finished the 2001 Supercross series third
in points; he was fourth overall in the outdoor motocross series. Joining
LaRocco next season will be Michael Byrne, Christopher Gosselaar and Travis
Preston. All three riders will compete on Honda CR125Rs in the Supercross and
national motocross series.


Road racing


Honda's 2002 Road Racing Team will focus exclusively on the AMA's Superbike
championship. Three exciting racers will ride Honda's RVT1000R RC51 in their
quest for victory.


20-year-old roadracing star Nicky Hayden nears the conclusion of his second full
season in Superbike racing with three consecutive Superbike wins under his belt,
the first rider to do so this year. His late season charge finds him in
near-perfect form for a championship run in the 2002 season.


Multi-time AMA Champion Miguel Duhamel returns to Honda Racing for 2002, having
won more AMA Superbike and 600 Supersport races than any rider in history, along
with a record five 600 Supersport titles and a Superbike championship. Duhamel's
renowned race craft makes him a serious title threat as he focuses exclusively
on Superbike competition in 2002.


Last year's AMA / Pro Honda Oils 600 Supersport Champion Kurtis Roberts will
campaign an Erion Racing-liveried RC51 for 2002. Roberts has ridden consistently
well this year since mid-season arm surgery took him out of title contention in
the 600 Supersport and Superbike series. Watch for Roberts to be a regular
podium finisher in 2002 Superbike competition.


Honda's all-new CBR954RR and returning CBR600F4i will anchor the Honda-supported
Erion Racing Team and Bruce Transportation Group efforts in the AMA's 2002
Formula Xtreme and Pro Honda Oils 600 Supersport series. Moving up from a
successful inaugural season with the Bruce Group is a familiar Hayden name,
18-year old Roger Lee Hayden. Nicky's younger brother earned the Erion saddle
with consistent finishes in both series this year and he takes a back seat to no
one when he is on the track.


Joining the Erion Racing Team will be a rider familiar to Honda racing
aficionados, none other than former Smokin' Joe's Honda factory rider Mike Hale.
Hale, who is best remembered for his meteoric rise in 600 Supersport and
Superbike racing in 1994-1995, will bring his exciting racing style to the
increasingly competitive 600 Supersport and Formula Xtreme series.


Honda will announce the signing of the Bruce Transportation Group riders in the
near future.


Off road racing


Six-time Baja winner Johnny Campbell will anchor Honda's 2002 desert racing
effort. Last November, Campbell teamed with Tim Staab, Steve Hengeveld and Craig
Smith to take the overall win in the toughest, most grueling Baja ever, the
1700-mile Baja 2000. Look for the off-road Red Riders to extend Honda's
dominance in 2002 aboard the race-proven aluminum-framed XR650R.


Scott Summers, nine-time off-road champion and a true ambassador to the sport,
announced his retirement before a standing ovation from Honda dealers. Summers
will continue to work with the Honda Riders Club of America promoting off-road
riding to youth of all ages.


About Honda


American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles,
ATVs, scooters and personal watercraft in the U.S. American Honda$B!G(Bs Motorcycle
Division conducts the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these
products through Honda authorized dealers. For further information about Honda
products, racing teams, programs, and dealer locations, visit the Honda web site
at: www.honda.com.


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