Honda will contest the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi in a special HRC livery celebrating 60 years since its arrival in the premier class in 1966. The anniversary design will adorn Honda’s RC213V machines and connect the factory effort with the company’s long racing history.

The factory line-up for this Grand Prix is Luca Marini and Somkiat Chantra. Chantra returns to MotoGP with the number 15, while Joan Mir is recovering and is not part of the revised pairing. Honda will also add a fifth RC213V to the grid, with Takaaki Nakagami taking part as a wildcard.

The anniversary points back to Honda’s first premier-class campaign in 1966. Mike Hailwood finished second in the championship that season on the RC181, behind MV Agusta’s Giacomo Agostini, while Jim Redman won Honda’s first two races. Honda ended the nine-round season with five victories.

Honda then withdrew from the 500cc class between 1968 and 1979. Its return to the top of the championship standings came in 1983, when Freddie Spencer secured Honda’s first of 21 premier-class titles. Marc Marquez remains Honda’s most recent MotoGP champion, having won the title in 2019.