Team HRC MXGP Enjoys Honda Thanks Day
T
im Gajser and Ruben Fernan-
dez joined a host of Honda
athletes from a multitude of
motorsports at its annual Thanks
Day, held at the Motegi Mobility
Resort in Japan, December 2-3.
The MXGP pair were joined
by fellow motocross stars Jett
and Hunter Lawrence who were
invited to celebrate after their
highly successful 2023 season
in the U.S. And these four met up
with more of their off-road and
road racing colleagues.
Fresh off his F1 World Cham
-
pionship, Max Verstappen made
the trip, alongside fellow F1 driv-
ers Sergio Perez, Yuki Tsunoda
and Daniel Riccardo, but perhaps
the biggest name was MotoGP
star Marc Marquez, who was
bidding an emotional farewell to
his Repsol Honda team after an
amazing career under the HRC
awning.
Each discipline got to showcase
their machinery in special dis
-
plays around the circuit, with the
motocross riders having a super-
pole competition on the specially
designed track near the Honda
Collections Hall. Gajser took the
victory and wowed the crowd with
a signature whip on the finish line,
and he also led the way ahead
of all the F1 drivers in the highly
competitive karting qualification,
taking pole position into the race.
Unfortunately for him, he couldn't
keep the lead after some aggres
-
sive bumping from the chasing
pack, but both he and teammate
Ruben Fernandez enjoyed some
fun laps against the best drivers in
the world.
They then headed back to the
motocross track for a special
race that included MotoGP racer
Joan Mir, trials rider Gabriel
Marcelli, and two-wheeled riders
across various other disciplines
for a race aboard Honda 125Fs.
The four-man team format saw
riders hand the bike over after a
lap of the circuit, with Jett Law
-
rence's crew getting the win in a
good-natured race.
Saving the best for last, every
bike and car then took to doing
a lap of the Motegi road-circuit
before performing a customary
burnout on the start straight in
front of the massive crowd.
CN
WIND
IN THE
P44
Honda HRC hosted its traditional end-of-the-season "Honda Racing Thanks Day" in Japan, which included
MXGP champ Tim Gajser, Jett and Hunter Lawrence, and F1 Champion Max Verstappen.
