Honda NRS250

With the effects of the global financial crisis waning, we're beginning to see more and more new models from various manufacturers.

The EICMA show in Milan is shaping up to deliver dozens of new models, and the emerging recovery in some markets also means that more money is being poured into racing development -- exhibit 'A' your honour, Honda's new NRS250.

Though it's another drip-feed teaser campaign, Honda has released the first vague image of its new 250cc race-bike that will contest the new Moto3 racing class in 2012.

The new Moto3 class replaces the 125cc two-stroke racing category, and one of the stipulations is that all competing motorcycles must be single-cylinder 250cc four-stroke engine "with a maximum bore of 81 mm."

The Honda CRF250F enduro bike has an 249cc liquid-cooled single cylinder SOHC engine that may be modified for such a use in a road racer, but with a 78mm bore Honda may well decide to develop an all-new unit.

HRC will take care of the fine-tuning of the race bike's chassis ahead of its 2012 racing debut in the Moto3 class.

As the teaser photo shows, NRS stands for Next Racing Standard and will no doubt draw parallels with Honda's previous two-stroke 250 road racing models, the cult favourite NSR. In that vein, it's reasonable to assume that Honda could also develop a high performance road-going version of the 250cc race bike, to replace the venerable CBR250 and develop racing ties with its entry-level road bikes.

As one of the Japan's biggest motorcycle manufacturers, Honda is keen to be a major player in all three racing categories, MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3, and will leverage its racing involvement (and heritage) in order to promote its road-going products.

As the old saying goes, win on Sunday, sell on Monday...

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