Motor manual

Honda has unveiled a special edition CBR1000RR Fireblade to celebrate Casey Stoners return to the Honda fold, limited to just 170 units


Before Casey Stoner has even participated in qualifying for the first race of the 2012 MotoGP season in Qatar, Hondas global promotions department is already cranking out commemorative products.

Exhibit A) your honour, the limited edition 2012 Honda CBR1000RR Casey Stoner Repsol Fireblade.

Finished in the same Repsol livery as Stoners 2012 RC212V MotoGP race bike, the limited edition Honda Fireblade will be on sale at Honda dealerships from the end of February and according to the Japanese company, all bikes will come with a "hard mounted wall plaque of authenticity" which are numbered 1 of 170, plus a Repsol Rear Cowl with signature and Casey Stoner decals mounted on the motorcycle.

The special edition CBR1000RR Casey Stoner Repsol Fireblade will retail for $18,790 plus on road costs and like the MotoGP race bike will bear Stoners number 27 on the front, which is rumoured to add an around 10km/h to the bikes top speed.

On top of the extra goodies that come with the Stoner Fireblade, the "familiar Repsol colours complement the Fireblade’s race-ready profile and emphasise the aggressive details of its cowling, chassis and high-performance components," claims Honda.

Hondas compact litre-class sports bike tips the scales at just 176kg and is power-driven by a liquid-cooled four-stroke engine that cranks out around 177hp (130kW).

Though the motorcycle doesnt include the sort of advanced electronic riding aids such as traction and anti-wheelie control like the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, the Honda is known for its chassis dynamics, the CBR1000RR Fireblade having a "particularly sweet chassis" according to one our previous reviews.

Celebrating what could be a massive year for both Casey Stoner and Repsol Honda MotoGP team in 2012 this limited edition Fireblade probably wont be around long with only 170 units on offer. Check out HondaMotorcycles.com.au for your nearest dealer.