Indonesia CBR 250 R Launch
After wrapping up the Sepang MotoGP test last week with unbelievable speeds, the Repsol Honda team of Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso were in Jakarta, Indonesia, to help launch the 2011 Honda CBR250R.
The Repsol MotoGP team launched the bike for their new team sponsor, Astra Honda, which is based out of Indonesia. Astra Honda will sponsor the Repsol Honda Team through their "One Heart" and "Satu Hati" branding on the 2011 Repsol Honda MotoGP RC212V.
Besides promoting the new CBR 250 R for Astra, which is said to be Honda’s flagship new model in Indonesia, Stoner, Pedrosa and Dovizioso helped promote motorcycling through a "training program and a school for young talents in Indonesia."
Tetsuo Suzuki (HRC President and Honda R&D Managing Director) says: "In this season, you will see the ‘One Heart’ logo on our machines and racing gear, at many circuits around the world. I was very much moved when I learned the meaning of ‘One Heart.’
"I’ve heard it shows Astra Honda’s wish to be a life-time partner for those who are young at heart, who challenge always for their dreams. It is the very core of Honda philosophy, or Honda spirit. With ‘One Heart’ we promise you that we are going to try our best to get back the (MotoGP) Championship in 2011."
After the CBR250 launch, Stoner, Pedrosa and Dovizioso visited the Sentual Circuit, which last hosted a MotoGP event in 1997.
Astra Honda is the premier distributor of motorcycles in Indonesia; in 2010, 7.4 million motorcycles were sold , with Astra distributed 3.4 million of those, which was a 27-percent growth over 2009.
Astra Honda said it expects that the total market in 2011 will increase to 8.2 million units and its target is to reach 4.25 million units sales, which would equal 53-percent market share.
Besides promoting new machines such as the CBR250R, Astra Honda loves to educate motorcyclists. Along with their motorcycle racing efforts in 2011, Astra Honda will assist rider education through Suzuka Racing School instructed by Noboru Ueda, a former Honda MotoGP rider.
Yusuke Hori (President Director PT AHM) says: "We believe the presence of these three Repsol Honda riders, who have proven their skills in MotoGP, will give spirit and inspiration to Indonesian Honda’s riders in reaching their dreams."