HONDA AUSTRALIA:

Honda’s CBR1000RR Fireblade has again been declared the best motorcycle in the country, defeating another year of fierce competition to win the prestigious annual ‘Australian Motorcycle News’ (AMCN) Motorcycle of the Year award.

As well as being given top honours by the panel of industry experts, who also named it Superbike of the Year for the second year running, the 2009 Fireblade was once more awarded the AMCN Readers Choice award.

“We’re extremely honoured that the Fireblade has been voted number one by both the AMCN judges and readers, for a second time. This really leaves no doubt that the Fireblade is the best sportsbike on the market,” said Honda’s Manager of Motorcycles, Tony Hinton.

“We’ve worked hard to provide a premium sportsbike for the Australian market that’s also excellent value for money, which has set us apart from our competitors.”

“Honda Australia prides itself on listening to its customers, and these awards really prove that it’s paying off,” said Mr Hinton.

The award was judged on the criteria of performance, innovation, quality, affordability and application, and the Fireblade is just the third motorcycle in the history of the award to win it back-to-back.

“Nothing has been able to match the benchmark machine of 2008, the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade,” wrote AMCN journalists.

“The Blade didn’t take the (Readers Choice) honours by a small margin – its win was comprehensive…an overwhelming number of readers picked it as the best bike in 2009.”

“The Fireblade’s combination of performance, handling, ride, everyday practicality, build quality and value for money make it a hard act to follow – both on the road and on the track.”

After again sweeping the top awards with the Fireblade, Honda was also awarded the ‘Best Scooter’ award for its Lead 100 scooter.

According to AMCN: “…There’s a lot of scooter to be had in the Lead 100 and…it comes as no surprise that this machine is a great sales success.”

The internationally renowned Fireblade is the undisputed favourite of the motorcycle industry having already won AMCN’s Motorcycle of the Year, AMCN’s Superbike of the Year, AMCN’s Reader’s Choice Award, Two Wheels Magazine’s Bike of the Year Award, Rapid Magazine’s Ultimate Sportsbike Shootout and premier motorcycle awards across the globe.

The 2009 CBR1000RR is available from Honda Dealers nationwide and is now available with ABS braking.