The new retro-inspired Honda CB1000F was showcased alongside some of the company’s most iconic racing machinery at two major events in France.
The new Honda CB1000F was in the spotlight alongside some important racing machines at two major events in France celebrating the brand’s motor sport heritage.
The French round of the 2026 MotoGP season at Le Mans and the Sunday Ride Classic at the Paul Ricard circuit brought together classic Honda racers, modern competitors, legendary riders and the new CB1000F, which draws design and engineering inspiration from Honda’s classic CB lineage.
The display featured Freddie Spencer’s 1985 NSR500, the CB750F Daytona and replicas of Honda’s RC174 and RC166 Isle of Man race bikes. Also on show was the 2026 Honda CB1000F, described as a modern-day homage to classic CB models and powered by an inline four-cylinder engine.
Two-time World Champion Freddie Spencer headlined the events, 41 years after his historic 1985 season in which he claimed both the 500cc and 250cc world titles.
“The 1985 NSR500 changed everything,” Spencer said. “It redefined how we approached geometry, testing, and rider connection. Riding it again feels like going home. It’s more than a bike. It’s part of me, and it shaped generations of racing machines after it.”
The NSR500 was Honda’s first V4 two-stroke Grand Prix machine, and Spencer’s success on its debut version helped set the platform for one of the most dominant race bikes in Grand Prix history.
Joining Spencer at Le Mans was Honda World Supersport rider Ana Carrasco, the 2018 World Supersport 300 Champion and the first female rider to win a motorcycle circuit world championship.
“I feel more nervous about riding this bike than I do before a race,” Carrasco said before riding the NSR500. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Today we rely on data and electronics. But with this machine, it’s all about feeling and connection. That’s a real challenge, and a privilege.”
Honda also used the events to highlight the work of the Honda Collection Hall, which was established in 1998 and houses more than 150 display vehicles, along with hundreds more race and production bikes in storage. The machines are maintained in operational condition.
Project leader Fujii-san said the goal was to keep the bikes alive rather than simply display them.
“Our goal is to keep history alive – not only to display these machines, but to run them. Some bikes can be restored in months, others take years. But the philosophy is the same: Ensure every motorcycle remains a living example of Honda engineering.”
Veteran engineer Waguri-san, who began his career in the 500cc era, said preserving that knowledge was critical.
“In those days, there were no manuals,” he said. “We rely on original drawings and handwritten notes from engineers of the past. Passing that knowledge to the next generation is essential to keeping these bikes alive.”
Former Repsol Honda MotoGP mechanic and current HRC development team member Ujino-san said the contrast between past and present machinery remained significant.
“Today, we have telemetry and sealed engines,” he said. “In the two-stroke era, mechanics needed to read the bike – its sound, vibration, even the smell. It required a completely different level of understanding.”
Spencer recently rode the new CB1000F in Japan and said the bike carries Honda’s rider-focused philosophy into the modern era.
“What impressed me most was the connection,” he said. “You can feel the lineage, but with modern technology, stability, and forgiveness. Honda has always built bikes that allow riders to push to the limit and bring it back. The CB1000F carries that forward beautifully.”
Across the two French events, fans were able to see the CB1000F on display, watch demonstration runs of the NSR500 and CB750, and take part in meet-and-greet sessions with Spencer.
Honda Motor Europe France’s Julian Muntzer said the events were about more than simply looking back.
“This is about more than nostalgia,” he said. “It’s about showing how our history continues to influence today’s engineering. These bikes are not relics; they actively contribute to Honda’s identity.”
The Le Mans GP is the best-attended MotoGP round on the calendar, with the event setting an all-time weekend attendance record in 2025 with 311,797 fans at the circuit.
The Sunday Ride Classic is an annual two-day event at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France, bringing together races, parades, demonstration runs and test rides. The 2026 event was held on 16-17 May.
