Honda launch new factory dirt effort

Honda Motorcycles Australia in conjunction with McLeod Accessories has the pleasure of announcing an exciting new off-road race team for the 2004 season…. No Fear Honda.

The No Fear Honda team will be further supported by sponsors such as Castrol, Michelin, TAG, DID and NGK.

Senior Director of Honda MPE Australia Stuart Strickland who was instrumental in putting together the team structure for 2004 said, “Honda is extremely well placed for 2004 to have a very competitive season. With new and upgraded machinery like the CRF250R our riders will have the best chance to finish on top of the heap.”

“In addition to the ‘hardware’ Peter Luckowski as Technical Leader will bring 17 years of racing preparation to our team. We anticipate a more professional presentation next year and with the might of the Honda Motor Company behind the team we are confident of good results.”

Team No Fear Honda will have a potent rider combination for 2004 that has every chance of bringing home several national titles for Honda in 2004.

Shane Metcalfe has signed up for another year with the factory Honda squad after a 2003 season that saw strong results. In the Supercross series Metcalfe showed that he has the speed to run at the front of the pack however a shoulder injury hampered his progress towards the end of the season. This wasn’t enough to keep the man down though as he went on to win in Brisbane and finish the Supercross series in 3rd place. This was backed up with a 3rd place in the motocross series and 8th overall in the 4-Stroke Nationals. Metcalfe will again be riding a CR250R in Supercross and a CRF450R in Motocross.

"I’m looking forward to being a part of the new 2004 No Fear Honda race team. I can not wait to start working with our new team manager as he has great knowledge and high expectations for the team. Having my own mechanic to work along side will be also great. The whole team as a package going into next year will be very professional and strong,” Shane said.

Joining Shane under the Honda tent will be Victorian veteran racer Troy Dorron. Dorron competed in the 2003 season on Honda machinery for a satellite Honda team but has come back for a full factory ride in the No Fear Honda team. After finishing 2nd overall in both the Supercross and motocross series this year Dorron proved that he has the determination and experience to win. Dorron is always a popular rider with the fans and his experience and fitness will put him in a strong position to take some wins on his CR250R in Supercross and on the new CRF250R in motocross.

Supporting both these experienced riders will be young New Zealander Cody Cooper. With the aim of improving his consistency Cooper has made the decision to base himself in Australia next year so he can fully concentrate on being a pro rider. Cooper will be competing solely on CRF250R in both Supercross and motocross so by the end of the season he is sure to know how to get the most out of the new red rocket.

Although the competition won't feel the same Honda are pleased to have Shayne King return to the Honda team for 2004. After dominating the Staintune 4 Stroke series this year on his CRF450R, King is looking forward to reversing the result in the Australian MX Championships where he finished 2nd this year to his brother Darryll King. After spending many years competing in World Motocross Grand Prix racing Shayne King will concentrate on winning the Australian motocross title for No Fear Honda in 2004.

Jye Harvey first rode for Honda in 1999 in the now non existent ThumperNats where he performed extremely well. With the changes to the series in 2004, Honda decided to run two riders in each class and began to look for someone who is consistent in both supercross as well as motocross. There is no question that Jye is the right man for the job and with his years of experience combined with his previous experience with Honda, he will be a serious contender for both series on the CRF250.

Along with the new team name will come a new crew of mechanics and staff. Heading up the technical side of team No Fear Honda will be Peter Luckowski whose name will be familiar to many motorcycle racing fans. Peter, or “Budda” as he is more commonly known as, has worked with many successful racers over a period of years. His association with Honda goes back to the days when he spannered for Australian Jeff Leisk in the 500cc World Motocross Grand Prix circuit back in the late 80’s. With Peter’s help, Jeff Leisk took on the world’s best aboard his mighty CR500R and finished the year in 2nd place in the 500cc motocross class.

After Leisky’s retirement from motocross, Peter took on a new challenge when he worked as a technician with Michael Doohan on the road racing World Grand Prix circuit. Obviously this proved to be an extremely successful relationship and Peter also worked with Kenny Roberts Jnr on the Suzuki GP team for several years. Peter is now based in Melbourne and will bring an enormous amount of racing experience to the No Fear Honda team for next year.

“We have an extremely talented line up of riders for both supercross and motocross this year and I am confident that we are going to be more competitive than we ever have been before. I’m thrilled to be working with Honda and am looking forward to the start of the season,” Peter said.

No Fear Honda team will contest in two major championships next year; the national motocross championships as well as the new look Supercross series.

With a total of 10 supercross events within 12 weeks this will keep the teams extremely busy for the first part of the year. The structure of racing for next year will reward fit and consistent riders who keep themselves injury free. Following the completion of the Supercross series the outdoor motocross series will kick off in May with eight rounds of outdoor racing right around Australia. (Ed's note - This means up and down the Eastern seaboard)