Rumors are running rampant that Honda will race a prototype four-stroke motocross machine at the 500 GP Motocross race in Australia on March 19, 2000. There is even a rumor that two different Japanese manufacturers will debut prototype four-stroke machines at this race.
Perhaps, what is most surprising is the time it has taken the other Japanese manufacturers to release four-stroke motocross machines competitive with Yamaha’s YZ426. It is approaching three years since the introduction of Yamaha’s revolutionary YZ400, and still there is no production machine available for purchase from Kawasaki, Suzuki or Honda that competes directly with Yamaha’s offering.
If Honda and one other manufacturer debut four-stroke prototypes in Australia on March 19, will they follow the route KTM did? In other words, will they develop the bike throughout the series, and wait an additional year to release production versions to dealers for sale to the public? Only time will tell.
