Updated: Konica Minolta Honda launched in Japan.
The Konica Minolta Honda team has today unveiled the livery with which Makoto Tamada will contest the 2005 MotoGP World Championship (pictured).
The presentation by the newly formed Japan Italy Racing (JiR) outfit was made at the Welkome Plaza in Aoyama, Tokyo, where the team's black, white and blue racing colours were shown to the public for the first time.
The Konica Minolta Honda team has today unveiled the livery with which Makoto Tamada will contest the 2005 MotoGP World Championship (pictured).
The presentation by the newly formed Japan Italy Racing (JiR) outfit was made at the Welkome Plaza in Aoyama, Tokyo, where the team's black, white and blue racing colours were shown to the public for the first time.
"I'm glad to announce the beginning of our challenge in the highest category of motorcycle world racing championships, MotoGP, with our Konica Minolta Honda Team, here at the Welkome Plaza in Aoyama, home of Honda," declared JiR president Tedsuo Iida.
"I want to thank Konica Minolta Holdings Inc. that have supported us and guaranteed us their trust and naturally Honda Racing Corporation that furnished us the bikes," he continued. "I have two dreams for this adventure: the first is to win the highest category world championship with a Japanese rider, while the other is to promote the motorbike culture, concerning new generations in this world."
"Today is an important day for me. We decided to take the cover off the formidable Honda RC211V of the Konica Minolta Honda Team's rider Makoto Tamada here, because it was important for us do it in such a prestigious headquarter, the house of Honda," added team manager Luca Montiron.
"Our bike will be without a doubt very visible thanks to the sky-blue and white colours, and thanks to the results that we are hoping to achieve. Our Konica Minolta Honda Team wants absolutely to return the trust given to us by Honda and our title sponsor Konica Minolta," he continued. "All of us strongly believe in our abilities, we are sure to come back here at the end of the season with something important to show to you all."
Tamada won two races with the Camel Honda Team in 2004 and, as well as the team change, has switched from Bridgestone to Michelin tyres for this season.
The Konica Minolta Honda team will also stage a European launch on March 17th at the Catalunya IRTA test.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
