Alonso rides with Marquez at Honda Thanks Day

F1 star Fernando Alonso rode the title-winning 2016 RC213V machine alongside triple MotoGP champion Marc Marquez (pictured) during Honda's annual 'Thanks Day' event at Motegi.

The event brings together official riders and drivers from Honda's various motorsport programmes, headlined by Marquez and team-mate Dani Pedrosa plus McLaren Honda F1 drivers Alonso and Jenson Button.

Watched by around 20,000 fans, Marquez and Pedrosa began Sunday riding CBR250 Dream Cup machines. Pedrosa then took to the track on the RS125R he used to win the 2003 125cc World Championship, while Marquez rode a historic Honda RC142. The Repsol Honda men also raced CR-Z 1.5 Sport Hybrids before climbing aboard their RC213V MotoGP machines for another run.

While Alonso took a ride on the MotoGP bike, sporting a special HRC livery, Pedrosa and Button drove Honda NSX Concept-GT cars. Alonso made his 'MotoGP debut' on an RCV at last year's event.

#HRTD Surely that cannot be Fernando leading @marcmarquez93 on the straight? #RC213V #HondaRacingFamily #HRC pic.twitter.com/kk8pgiSu7k-- Honda Racing F1 (@HondaRacingF1) December 4, 2016

"As always it has been an honour to be here at the Honda Racing Thanks Day, spending some relaxing time with people from the company," Marquez said. "It's a nice event because it's good fun for the fans and for us, because we get the chance to speak and exchange opinions with riders and drivers from other motorsport categories.

"For someone who loves bikes as much as I do, it's a fantastic weekend! This year of course was even more special because we could once again celebrate the MotoGP title at the track where we won it. I look forward to coming back next year!"

Pedrosa added: "I'm happy to be here in Japan again and to share some time with our Japanese fans who are always so special and affectionate, and bring us lots of presents and nice surprises!

"We like coming here for the Honda Racing Thanks Day because we have the chance to ride and drive many types of bikes and car, so it's great fun. This year we had fantastic weather too, so we could make the best of the experience."

With the winter test ban in place, Marquez and Pedrosa will not be on track again until the official Sepang test at the end of January.