Honda Secures 61st Constructors Championship
The 2012 MotoGP Constructors Championship is Honda’s 19th in the premier class – six in MotoGP and thirteen in 500cc – to add to the six 350cc titles, nineteen in the 250cc class, fifteen in the 125cc class, and two in the 50cc category. With 12 victories this season, Honda riders have won 658 races, a number that’s sure to continue growing.
Honda’s 2012 Repsol Honda Team riders, Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner, both contributed to the Constructors Championship which is calculated by the result of the highest placed motorcycle of a Constructor, according to the position in the race. They scored a combined tally of 412 points with Dani Pedrosa taking Honda’s top result ten times, and despite missing three races due to injury, Casey Stoner was Honda’s top points-earner seven times. Honda satellite rider, Alvaro Bautista also contributed to the tally with his 3rd place finish in San Marino.
A Honda rider finished on the podium in every race this season and the Constructors Championship was won by the following placed finishes: Qatar – Pedrosa 20, Spain – Stoner 25, Portugal – Stoner 25, France – Stoner 16, Catalunya – Pedrosa 20, Great Britain – Stoner 20, Netherlands – Stoner 25, Germany – Pedrosa 25, Italy – Pedrosa 20, USA – Stoner 25, Indianapolis – Pedrosa 25, Czech Republic – Pedrosa 25, San Marino – Bautista 16, Aragon – Pedrosa 25, Motegi – Pedrosa 25, Malaysia – Pedrosa 25, Australia – Stoner 25, Valencia – Pedrosa 25.
Honda is an engineering company, whose legendary and innovative machines have attracted the best in the world. Machines that are the creation of some of a brilliant engineering corps, which had the bikes over to the dedicated globe-trotting race technicians who are overseen by passionate team managers who demand, and receive, excellence. Men like Shuhei Nakamoto, the Executive Vice-President of Honda Racing Corporation, whose laser-like focus, brutal honesty, and selfless dedication were instrumental in bringing Honda the first Constructors Championship of the new 1000cc era.
TETSUO SUZUKI – HRC PRESIDENT, SENIOR MANAGING OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF HONDA R&D CO.,LTD
“To win back to back Constructors Titles, our 61st, is a wonderful achievement and it is a credit to our dedicated team and talented riders. This second successive title is testament that HRC is stronger than ever. Unfortunately Dani missed out on the Rider's Championship by the narrowest of margins, he fought until the end and we congratulate Jorge Lorenzo on a very strong season. We are sorry to say farewell to our 2011 Champion, Casey and we wish him the very best for his future. I must thank all our sponsors and technical partners for their ongoing valuable support and input, and also thanks to all our fans around the World. We hope to repeat this victory again next season!"