New MCN May 16: Honda V4 celebration

 
What does V stand 4?
Honda’s first production V4, tested by MCN 30 years ago this week, was the start of a dynasty Honda was determined would define it, if it didn’t destroy it first. It scaled no greater heights than the RC30, NR750 and RC45. 

 Honda VFR1200: new vs old
Honda has tweaked its current flagship V4 for 2012, but is it any closer to the cutting edge?

The big picture
Leon Haslam collects team-mate Marco Melandri at the final corner on the last lap of race two at Donington Park. Jonathan Rea had touched Haslam, taking him down and denying him his first BMW victory.

The rarest V4 of all
The ultra-rare NR750 racer was Honda’s final bid for race-track glory with its oval-piston V4 engine. But the new range of road bikes it was built to publicise would never make it into production.

Seeley targets McCallen’s record at North West 200
Tyco TAS Suzuki rider Alastair Seeley starts as favourite for Ireland’s biggest road race of the season, determined to equal Phil McCallen’s tally of five wins in a day.

Chris Vermeulen on MotoGP return
Chris Vermeulen has been drafted in to replace Colin Edwards on the Suter-BMW at Le Mans and admits his leg injury took him ‘to hell and back’.

BMW’s perfect day becomes perfect storm
Race one: the German factory team celebrate their first-ever WSB race win. Race two: a last-corner lunge by Melandri takes down both BMWs and denies team-mate Haslam a win.