Vet261
PR Addict
I try not to be superstitious but this is getting ridiculous! I just don't get how the mighty Honda HRC team is unable to put together a 450 SX championship. Of course, they might somehow do it this year but after Sexton's latest episode it looks bleak once again.
The mighty CRF450 came out in 2002 and this is now 20 years in SX and has not won a title.
For comparison:
Suzuki 450 - released in 2005, 2 SX titles
Yamaha 450 - released in 1998 as YZ400, 2 SX titles
Kawasaki 450 - released in 2006, 5 SX titles
KTM 450 - various motor sizes before sticking with 450 in early 00's, 5 SX titles
Husky 450 - not a factor before Pierer aquisition in 2013, 1 SX title
GG 450 - not a factor before Pierer aquisition in 2020, 0 SX title
Obviously the easy miss here is letting Carmichael go after winning SX in 2004 aboard the CR250 (Hondas last SX title!). You have to think if they would have held onto him the CRF450 would have earned the SX title in either 05 or 06. However that didn't happen and he won both of those titles on Suzukis (05 on RM250, 06 on RMZ450).
The other Honda misses throughout the years include riders like Windham, Reed, Canard, Barcia, Tomac, Millsaps. Now Roczen (who is basically done) and Sexton. Reed and Tomac were able to win the title on a 450, just other brands.
What if Triumph and Beta enter the SX fray and one of them gets a title before the CRF450? WOW
The mighty CRF450 came out in 2002 and this is now 20 years in SX and has not won a title.
For comparison:
Suzuki 450 - released in 2005, 2 SX titles
Yamaha 450 - released in 1998 as YZ400, 2 SX titles
Kawasaki 450 - released in 2006, 5 SX titles
KTM 450 - various motor sizes before sticking with 450 in early 00's, 5 SX titles
Husky 450 - not a factor before Pierer aquisition in 2013, 1 SX title
GG 450 - not a factor before Pierer aquisition in 2020, 0 SX title
Obviously the easy miss here is letting Carmichael go after winning SX in 2004 aboard the CR250 (Hondas last SX title!). You have to think if they would have held onto him the CRF450 would have earned the SX title in either 05 or 06. However that didn't happen and he won both of those titles on Suzukis (05 on RM250, 06 on RMZ450).
The other Honda misses throughout the years include riders like Windham, Reed, Canard, Barcia, Tomac, Millsaps. Now Roczen (who is basically done) and Sexton. Reed and Tomac were able to win the title on a 450, just other brands.
What if Triumph and Beta enter the SX fray and one of them gets a title before the CRF450? WOW