The 2017 Honda CRF450R and CRF450RX have been revealed at the MXGP of The Netherlands by Honda’s factory riders Evgeny Bobryshev and Gautier Paulin of Team HRC and Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser. Joining them in the reveal were HRC’s General Manager for MXGP Roger Harvey and Honda Motor Europe’s Off-Road Manager Davy Dousselaere.

The MXGP paddock was an apposite host for the unveiling, as the factory CRF450RW has dominated the World Championship in 2016 with 17 top-three moto finishes, 15 moto wins and 19 Grand Prix podiums including seven overall victories.

Wearing the #243, Tim Gajser and his CRF450RW carry a 99-point advantage in the World Championship and, with just three Grands Prix remaining, the reigning MX2 World Champion is on the verge of making history.

Much of that learning has gone into the development of the first ‘from the ground up’ redesign of the CRF450R for eight years. The bike features an HRC-inspired engine for an 11 per cent increase in top-end power, new aluminium frame and Showa 49mm forks. It also boasts a titanium fuel tank as standard, totally new plastics for a radical new look and electric start, as standard, for the first time.

In the CRF450RX, Honda also now has a race-ready enduro machine. Based on the CRF450R, the ‘X’ features enduro-spec suspension and switchable engine maps, larger fuel tank, 18″ rear wheel, sidestand and electric start as standard.