Honda V-Twin Superbike?

HONDA V-TWIN SUPERBIKE?

IS HONDA ATTEMPTING TO beat Ducati at its own game? If rumors from Europe prove true, expect the Japanese giant to field a VTwin Superbike in the 1997 World Superbike Series. There are murmurs of an unveiling later this year at the Suzuka 8Hour endurance race, traditional launch pad for Honda's sporting hardware.

The bike would replace the only partially successful RC45 V-Four in the WSB arena, where Ducati’s 916 V-Twin currently reigns supreme.

Honda continues to deny the existence of such a bike, but its recent signing of Ducati’s twotime champ Carl Fogarty has fueled the V-Twin rumor mill. Foggy’s teammate will be New Zealander Aaron Slight,

who has ridden the wheels off his factory RC45, but only seen the top of a victory podium twice. Slight played it cagey when asked about the new racebike. “I can’t confirm if they’re building one, but I’d love a Twin if it helps me get the championship,” he said.

American Honda officials were even more tight-lipped.

When asked about the V-Twin, one higher-up would only say, “My best comment about that would be no comment.”

—David Edwards