Barcia Inks Deal With Honda
Cycle News Staff | May 5, 2012
Justin Barcia has inked a two-year contract with American Honda to contest both the AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross National Championship for the Team Honda Muscle Milk team for the 2013-2014 seasons. Barcia will ride a Honda CRF450R.
Barcia won his second successive East Lites Supercross Series this year and also won tonight’s Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“It’s an awesome feeling to sign with Team Honda Muscle Milk,” said Barcia in a team release. “It is something that I have dreamed of since being an amateur. I’ve been riding and winning on Hondas for years because it’s the bike I feel best on. I am excited to continue my career with Honda aboard the CRF450R. I got a glimpse of what I have to look forward to after getting the opportunity to race the 450 last year. After working with Jeff Stanton, I have learned that hard work really pays off and I plan to continue that work ethic into my 450 career. With a great team behind me and an amazing bike, I believe I can be a contender for the championship.”
Barcia has been a part of the Honda family for several years, including his rise through the amateur ranks. Barcia made his professional motocross debut in 2009 aboard a GEICO Honda CRF250R.
“It has taken a lot of hard work to get our program where it is today,” said Factory Connection President and GEICO Honda Team co-owner Rick Zielfelder. “We pride ourselves on having an elite program that offers support to top amateur racers and gives them the opportunity to further their careers in the professional ranks. The GEICO Honda Team has given riders the tools to reach their ultimate goal of winning professional championships. It also creates a seamless integration for the rider to make the move to racing the 450s with the Honda factory team. And like Trey Canard, we are pleased to see Barcia make the transition to Team Honda Muscle Milk.”
In the 2011 AMA Supercross season, Barcia appeared on the podium at every round of the nine-race series en route to the title. During the 2011 outdoor motocross season, Barcia was given the opportunity to ride the last four rounds aboard a factory CRF450R, winning a moto at Southwick and finishing on the podium twice at Unadilla and in the season finale at Pala.
Team manager Erik Kehoe is happy to have Barcia.
“We are pleased to have Justin on board for the 2013 season,” Kehoe said. “With two Lites East Championships under his belt, Justin has proven time and again that he has what it takes to run up front and win races. He has also shown that he can be a front-runner aboard a CRF450R. We believe that with his pure determination to win, Justin will be a consistent threat to climb the podium. His focus and drive make him a great fit for our team.”
