Posted on behalf of American Honda Motor Co. and Richie Morris Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 13, 2019) – More than 25 years after earning the most recent of its five AMA Grand National Championships, American Honda Motor Co. is returning to flat track racing for the 2019 season, this time through support team Richie Morris Racing and top-level rider Mikey Rush. The team will campaign American Flat Track’s AFT Singles Championship aboard the 2019 CRF450R.

The arrangement will have the Torrance, California-based company providing support to the veteran RMR team, which scored 15 podium finishes during the last two seasons in AFT competition as well as earning a second and a third overall in the AFT Singles championship in 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Like RMR, 31-year-old Mikey Rush is an accomplished veteran, a two-time Daytona winner with more than a decade of professional experience in both the AFT Twins and AFT Singles divisions under his belt. Hailing from San Jose, California, Rush is a top-level competitor who rode a G&G-sponsored twin last year until being called to fill in for a top factory twins effort.

“Teaming with Richie Morris Racing and American Honda is an amazing opportunity for me.” said Rush. “I’m very much looking forward to the 2019 season. Given the RMR team’s solid performances over the years, along with the amazing support and expertise Honda offers, we’re looking to be serious contenders for the AFT Singles championship.”

Additional RMR Honda riders are expected to be announced prior to the start of the 2019 season.

“The most appropriate word we could use from a team perspective is honored,” said Richie Morris, team owner of RMR. “To have one of the world’s leading engineering and racing companies partner with RMR in its return to American Flat Track after 30-some years speaks volumes about our team and the series. With a highly competitive motorcycle, our core team returning in James Hart and Shane Hill, and a proven and winning rider in Mikey Rush, it is no secret our goals are set on wins and championships. It would be an understatement to say the entire RMR team is excited about 2019 and beyond.”

“Thanks to the past success of AMA Grand National Champions Bubba Shobert and Ricky Graham, flat track has long held a special place in the hearts of everyone at American Honda, so it's exciting to be involved in the sport once again,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Advertising & Motorcycle Sports at American Honda. “American Flat Track has made impressive strides over the past couple of years, and Richie Morris Racing has established itself as a professional operation with which we're proud to be associated. We look forward to a successful season with Mikey Rush aboard the CRF450R.”

About RMR:
RMR is a professional motorcycle race team. Having competed at the highest level in different genres of motorcycle racing, RMR has won four national championships in AMA Pro Road Racing. The team has scored numerous wins and podium finishes with many different professional riders. We believe in building a solid platform to win races and championships. In doing so, our mission is to deliver value to our riders and partners. 

About American Honda Motor Co.:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and Side-by-Sides in the U.S. American Honda’s Motorcycle Division conducts the sales, marketing and operational activities for these products through independent authorized Honda retail dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to powersports.honda.com.