Words by Chris Pomeroy
It’s amazing to think how fast 50 years has gone by and what has changed in our world. We have gone from gas guzzling big cars to small, and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks. We even have electric vehicles on the road now as our planet is attempting to wean itself off fossil fuels. In motocross, we have moved from just racing outdoors, to the Monster Energy Supercross Series being the most popular series in our sport. Canada has also witnessed a surge in Supercross; however, motocross is still considered our bread and butter, thanks in part to the Triple Crown Series, and large amateur events like the Walton TransCan and Deschambault ECAN. Finally, it’s mind-blowing to think how technology has changed over the last 50 years when it comes to motocross machines. For a company like Honda, who this year celebrated five decades of producing race winning MX bikes, their old 1973 CR250 Elsinore is unrecognizable by today’s standard. But what hasn’t change is Honda’s commitment to quality and innovation. Those two things are as visible today as they were in 1973!
Since riders were able to take those first early laps on the all-new CR250 Elsinore, Honda as you would expect, has gone through a number of changes with their CR platform. During the early 1980s Honda would take a major step forward as they used the success they had with their California kid Marty Smith, and went out and signed top riders like David Bailey, Johnny O’Mara, Rick Johnson, Chuck Sun, Donnie Hanson, and the legend himself, Bob Hannah. What followed were multiple championships in both Supercross and Motocross. In fact, you could make the argument that Honda Racing (HRC) pretty much owned the 1980s in America as they took home over a dozen pro titles. Here in Canada, Honda wasn’t quite as successful, however with riders like Pierre Couture, Kevin Moore, Jeff Surwall, Doug Hoover, and Carl Valliancourt all spending time under the Honda tent, it wasn’t from a lack of trying. Hoover would win the 1988 500cc Canadian Championship, while Couture, Surwall, and Valliancourt would all find their way onto the podium at various times.
During the 1990s, Honda would continue their success on the racetrack as The King of Supercross, Jeremy McGrath took the brand to new heights. McGrath would win six Supercross titles and one Motocross title for Honda, and in the process, he would change our sport forever introducing it to mainstream America. Throughout his run, McGrath and Honda were household names and you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing their names. Honda also remained on the cutting edge of technology and in 1997 they introduced the very first aluminum frame dirt bike. The 1997 CR250 was groundbreaking, and I raced it and had my very best season on the Canadian National Circuit, finishing third overall. Honda would continue to lead the way, and in five years the four-stroke era began with the introduction of the CRF450R. A bike that paved the way to what we see on the track today.
The sport of motocross as we know it, certainly began in 1973, as several OEM’s are celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2023. However, one other important event took place half a century ago and that was my birthday. I also turned 50th this year, and as I mentioned above, over the years I have experienced great success as a Red Rider. With both Honda and I celebrating our big 5-0 in 2023, I thought it was the perfect tribute to team up again and compete for a Canadian Championship. Thankfully, my longtime sponsor Sturgess Cycle, located in Hamilton, Ontario, was onboard, and together we celebrated in style. Also, FMF Racing got on board and provided a slip-on muffler. The FMF Muffler instantly improve the power output on my CRF450R by not only increasing it throughout the range, but also it made the bike easier to ride by making the power smoother. I cannot emphasis enough how much the FMF Muffler helped in making the CRF450R more rideable in all conditions.
Not only did I win the Vet 50 class at the Walton TransCan this past summer, but I went undefeated in my races, and truly enjoyed every minute of it. If was satisfying to not only take home the oldest class title at the Walton TransCan, but it was also fun to share it with Triple Crown Series 450 Champion Dylan Wright, who was the only other Honda mounted rider to win a National title in 2023. The Honda brand has always felt special to me, so it was great to honour them in 2023 and race their special 50th Anniversary CRF450R. Five decades is a long time in life, as well as in a sport. Honda has proven to be at the forefront of innovation and durability with their CR and CRF line-up over the years. But, regardless of where the sport takes us during the next 50 years, I’m sure Honda will be right there, not only with dirt bikes that are on the cutting edge of technology, but also that consumers of all ages and skill levels can trust. Congratulations Honda on 50th years of excellence, and thank-you for allowing me to be a small part of the celebration in 2023.