Not quick enough?

Some of the UK’s top young racers started their careers riding CB500s. In 1997 and 1998 the unlikely racebikes competed in their own one make championships at high-profile meetings around the UK. Honda supported three series, the Honda CB500 Cup, the Newcomers Cup and a Ladies Cup.

All bikes were standard except for the removal of lights, a Micron carbon-fibre silencer, Bridgestone BT90 tyres and a footrest jack-up kit.

The 1997 championship was dominated by James Toseland who’s since shot to global prominence in World Superbike. In the same season, current GP rider Leon Haslam won his first-ever CB500 meeting at the British Grand Prix support race at Donington Park.

The following season saw the emergance of James Ellison, who won the Newcomers Cup before going on to win the European Superstock Championship twice. This year he joins the ranks of the factory riders as Kawasaki’s new World Supersport signing.