Joe Byrd returns to Honda

Honda backs Joe Byrd Racing for 2011

Honda is returning to the track in 2011 by once again supporting two-time national ATV MX champion Joe Byrd.

The level of support is unclear, but after a year without factory backing the professor has got to be happy. Here's what Honda said in a press release:

Joe Byrd Racing returns for its sixth season as the official support team for Honda in the 2011 AMA Pro ATV Motocross National Championship. Representing Honda in the Pro, Pro Am and Production A classes, the team has won multiple titles over the years and will continue racing Honda’s TRX450R in the ATV competition. “I’ve really enjoyed working with Honda over the years because we share the same professionalism and work ethic toward winning on and off the track,” said Joe Byrd, champion Honda racer and Joe Byrd Racing Team Owner. “Honda has treated me like family since day one, and I couldn’t see myself riding anything else. I look forward to 2011 and another exciting year of racing.”

Contingency Support
In 2011, Honda will continue its industry-leading contingency program. The Red Rider Rewards program will support racing all across the United States by offering contingency payouts to a wide range of Honda-mounted professional and amateur racers during the 2011 race season.

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

Video - Joe Byrd compound

After a few weeks of technical bugs, we're back up with a video from QuadSouthFilms highlighting some ATV motocross action from the Joe Byrd compound in August.

Joe Byrd's Race Quads up for Sale

Buy It Now: Two-time National MX Champion's Motocross Quads

Long-time Honda motocross racer Joe Byrd is selling "some" of his race-ready and practice motocross ATVs in his massive stable. You can see pictures of the quads for sale with listed prices at JoeByrd.com.

This announcement from the two-time national champ can be interpreted several ways. The first, and hopefully most likely, reason Byrd would be selling all his Honda race quads is because he's going to be riding for KTM or some other manufacturer in 2011. However, the likelihood of this being the reason seems doubtful given the current state of the economy and rumors the king of ATV motocross - Suzuki - is dropping its support for 2011 in an almost unanticipated move.

Will Joe Byrd be racing on a different brand next year? Or perhaps an updated, fuel-injected Honda?

Another possible reason for the clearance sale could be related to personal financial troubles with the Byrds or the Joe Byrd Quad Riding School. This year, Joe rode with injuries and sat out several rounds, which means he missed a lot of podiums and the likely contingency bonuses that go along with it.

A third possible reason is that Byrd is simply retiring and getting out of the ATV motocross racing business. With Doug Gust's retirement leading into the 2010 season, Byrd is now the elder statesmen of the sport. Byrd is remarkably fit, but he's no spring chicken, and injury recovery is that much more painful and time consuming.

This is all pure speculation of course.