After winning the premier class riders' title of the FIM Road Racing World Championship for the first time in 1983, Honda remodeled their racers for the following year. It was a completely different machine with a newly developed 2-stroke V-type 4-cylinder engine. Moreover, the 1984 version featured a unique layout with a fuel tank below the engine. That was the birth of the first generation NSR500 development code [NV0A].
"What is important is the product, right?"
At the 1985 Spanish GP, Soichiro Honda visited the circuit. Fukui, who was a director of HRC, acted as a guide. (Photo/Jiro Ishida)
In 1983, Freddie Spencer on NS500 won the championship, which was Honda's first title in the premier class. Fukui recalls, "We won in 1983, but it was like an incomplete combustion for me."
"We must win not only in races but also with our products. That's why we released a production bike called NSR250R, which became a sensation. We are motivated by a feeling of accomplishment like that. Moreover, we changed the firing order of the cranks of VF750F and produced RVF. When we beat Yamaha in the Suzuka 8-hour endurance race, Mr. Soichiro Honda was very happy too. What happened next was VFR750R (RC30) and Paris-Dakar. Actually, the rally had nothing to do with HRC, but we made NXR because I hated to lose. It achieved 1-2-3 finish from the first attempt, which led to an adventure model named Africa Twin. How exciting! That was something I lived for."
"In the first place, I joined Honda because I wanted to race. However, after I actually immersed myself in the world of racing and won the Grand Prix and the 8-hour race, it began to occur to me that the important thing is the product. Like it was meant to happen, Mr. Soichiro Honda had the same philosophy. I learned that later."
"Honda started enjoying success abroad after its debut at the Isle of Man TT. After winning many races with RC racers in the early stages of the World Grand Prix, we released some racer replicas as production models. At the same time we produced many Super Cubs. I think Mr. Honda's personality was reflected there. In the 1960s, we also took part in F1, but after some years Mr. Honda said 'How long are you going to race F1? If we stick to racing, we will not be a good company.' He was that kind of person. He was a really cool man."
"You have to win the race. That's true, but don't be satisfied with simply winning. I quite agree."
