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HONDA RC181:
THE BIG GUN
For decades, the 500cc class was the pinnacle of Grand
Prix racing. At the close of the 1950s, top teams in the class
included Gilera, MV Agusta, Norton and BMW, all ridden by
champions and legendary riders.
Soichiro Honda recognized in 1959 that the 500cc class
was no place for an upstart Japanese company to enter
Grand Prix racing. So he competed first with a 125 at the
Isle of Man. In 1960, Honda launched a full-fledged racing
program, contesting all seven rounds on the Grand Prix
calendar in the 125 and 250 classes with multiple riders.
Success quickly followed. Honda won its first Grand Prix in
Spain, the race that kicked off the 1961 season in the 125
class. As that memorable year closed out, Honda riders
dominated both the 125 and 250 classes, locking down four
of the top five spots in the 125 class and all top five in the
250 class. Not bad for newcomers.
By 1966, just seven short years since the competition had
raised a skeptical eyebrow at the unknown Japanese racing
team, Honda had earned world championships in the 50,
125, 250 and 350 classes. Only one crown was missing: the
500cc World Championship. This omission would soon be
addressed.
The 500 class was packed with formidable opposition
fielding well-honed race programs. As the 1966 season
approached, all kinds of rumors and speculation regarding
