CAS Honda Kicks Off 2009 With Busy Test Schedule 1

CAS Honda has kicked off the 2009 season with a heavy testing schedule for its strong rider line-up of Billy Mackenzie and Cedric Melotte, who are preparing for their attack on the FIM World MX1 Championship.

Mackenzie, who finished the 2008 series in ninth position overall and won the British MX1 Championship, is more fired up than ever and has been completing a grueling test schedule in California over the last few weeks. The 24-year-old Scot finished the final part of last year with a shakedown test on the all-new EFI-powered CRF450R, and is now getting to grips with the new machine, bringing promising results.

Mackenzie has also employed new trainer to help improve his overall fitness, and this partnered with a heavy testing schedule in the California sunshine, has given the two times British MX1 Champion a great start to the new year. The CAS Honda pilot will return to the UK early in February ahead of the race season, which kicks off the following month.

The ultra-experienced Cedric Melotte, who returns to Honda machinery for 2009, will partner Mackenzie this season in the CAS Honda squad. The French-speaking Belgian is no stranger to the front of the World Championship field, as the multi-time Grand Prix winner has led both the MX1 and MX2 series before being ruled out due to injury. Melotte is looking forward to racing competitive machinery once again and is determined to make his mark in the super-competitive World Championship.

Melotte has recently returned from Spain where he has been focusing on developing a base set-up aboard his CRF450R. The 30-year-old Belgian visited six practice tracks over 15 days with his crew, and his initial impression of the new bike is good. With his undoubted motivation, Melotte will certainly be looking to score strongly this season.

Both riders will continue development of the revolutionary Honda machinery over the next few weeks ahead of the first international races they will take part in. Back at base in Belgium some of the team members have also been super-busy behind the scenes with machine development, having carried out many dyno runs using new specification parts and engine maps, as well as testing at the many local tracks. So far the feeling is positive and the team is extremely upbeat ready to take on the challenges of 2009.

Billy Mackenzie #211
"Testing over in California has been awesome so far. We've not tried so many parts, but I've concentrated on spending a lot of time on the bike. We have evaluated some different specification Showa suspension, which I'm really happy with, but the whole bike is new, so everything is different from last year and I've just been familiarising myself with it. Overall it's been great because I feel very comfortable on the bike and I feel very strong - the more I ride the new CRF450R the more I like it, and I really think it could be the best bike out on track this year. I've also changed my trainer and throughout the winter in the gym we've been working really hard. My body has changed shape; I feel a lot stronger and fitter than ever. I'm now looking forward to coming back to Europe to refine the set-up of the bike and get it ready for racing."

Cedric Melotte #10
"I am very happy to be joining the CAS Honda team and I have settled in very well over the last few weeks. We have had a lot of testing to do, and I've been spending lots of time on the bike to get to grips with the new Honda CRF450R. In Spain we worked on a lot of different set-up changes, and I feel confident that the machine is capable of doing very well. I need to find some more confidence and a package I am comfortable with, which is where we are at now. Although we still have work to do, I am very happy with the progress and preparations we've made so far and I am looking forward to the new season"

Neil Prince: CAS Honda Team Manager
"The CAS Honda team has been incredibly busy over the last few months making preparations for this exciting new season. Billy has certainly made some changes to his regime, and this has proven positive both on and off the bike. Over in California he has spent many weeks on the new bike, which is very different from last year's machine, as well as taking on a very heavy fitness programme. Cedric has gelled with the new EFI CRF450R from the word go, and he has been working closely with his crew chief in Spain at different tracks to find a good base setting for his machine. Back at base we've also been busy developing the bike to create a strong package and we're confident that the new bike will be very competitive. We still have lots of work to do though, and the next few weeks will definitely be busy as we continue our development ahead of the new season."