- Youth-focused championship open to riders of Groms, some CRF-F models
- Red Rider Rewards contingencies available to Honda-mounted Mini Cup racers
Following American Honda's recent announcement that it is offering the powersports industry's most generous contingency payouts for MotoAmerica's Superbike and Stock 1000 classes, the company revealed today that it is supporting MotoAmerica's Mission Mini Cup, for which it is now an official supporting manufacturer. Touted by MotoAmerica as the first step in a process that could lead talented young racers to eventually reach elite levels of competition, the Mini Cup offers an opportunity for Red Riders to push themselves on challenging kart tracks, riding Honda miniMOTO models including the Grom, CRF110F, CRF50F and more.
While Honda's small-displacement motorcycle offerings have been a staple in training upcoming on- and off-road racers, their eligibility in the Mini Cup has previously been relatively limited. The Mini Cup includes six classes for 2024, four of which are open to racers campaigning Honda motorcycles (other manufacturers are also eligible):
- Stock 50 (ages 5-9): CRF50F, XR50R, XR50
- Stock 110 (ages 6-12): CRF110F
- Stock 125 (ages 10-17): CRF125F, CRF100F, XR100R, XR100
- Street GP (ages 12+): Grom
For 2024, MotoAmerica has adopted a regional qualifying system, in which club-organized events decide finalists who will be eligible to compete in a signature MotoAmerica-promoted, AMA-sanctioned National Final at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, August 9-11.
In addition, Honda is offering Red Rider Rewards contingency funds in MotoAmerica Mini Cup races. Street GP Grom racers who finish in first, second or third place at regional events are eligible to earn $400, $250 and $150, respectively, and the amounts increase to $800, $500 and $300 for the National Final. In the other Mini Cup classes, Red Rider Rewards are $150, $100 and $50 for regional races, and $300, $200 and $100 for the National Final. This adds up to a per-race total of $1,700 in available awards at each regional event, and $2,200 for the National Final.
"We're excited that MotoAmerica is pushing to grow youth road racing in the U.S., and we're happy to support those efforts," said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing & Advertising at American Honda. "Honda has always been about bringing more people to the world of motorcycles, and no model represents that philosophy more than the Grom—one of the industry's best-selling models. The Mini Cup provides an opportunity for owners of Groms and other Honda models to use their bikes in alternative ways, and this new, grassroots-focused format makes for an easy, affordable, realistic way to go road racing. We look forward to seeing many new Red Riders on racetracks across the country."
For more information, visit the Honda Powersports website.
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About American Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and Side-by-Sides in the United States. American Honda's Power Sports & Products Division conducts the sales, marketing and operational activities for these products through independent authorized Honda retail dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to powersports.honda.com.
