Former top Grand Prix and British Championship rider Roger Harvey has confirmed his retirement from his role with HRC Honda, bringing an incredible chapter with the Japanese manufacturer to an end after almost three decades.
Harvey may have hung up his motocross boots, but he never truly left the paddock. With a lifelong passion for the sport, he joined Honda in 1997 and, 29 years later, has now attended his final Grand Prix in his role with HRC.
Over the course of his time with Honda, Harvey has held a number of different positions within the company. While he became a familiar face within the motocross paddock, his career with HRC also saw him take on the role of team manager in road racing, as well as becoming General Manager at HRC before eventually transitioning into an advisor role behind the scenes.
The MXGP of Arnhem marked Harvey’s final Grand Prix with HRC Honda, with the team giving him a special send-off as he prepares to officially retire at the end of December.
Reflecting on his remarkable career with Honda, Harvey told GateDrop.com:
“I retire officially at the end of December but the final race for me was in Arnhem, the last race where I’d be with the team and with everybody, we had a bit of a send-off. It’s been interesting throughout the whole time with Honda. I have to say, it’s one of the greatest privileges I’ve ever had to work with HRC. Just the way they go about things, they are a pure racing company. They’re all about racing and winning, that’s what they’re all about. It’s just been a privilege to have these last years with them just to see how they operate and how they work. It’s been quite amazing”.
Harvey has been a hugely respected figure within the paddock throughout his career, with his knowledge, experience and approachable nature making him a popular member of the Motocross community. His departure will undoubtedly be felt by many who have crossed paths with him over the years.
Giacomo Gariboldi, the current team owner of the HRC Honda MXGP team, also paid tribute to Harvey on social media, reflecting on the impact he has had on both his own career and the sport as a whole.
“Roger, I will always be deeply grateful to you for the incredible opportunity you gave me to become part of HRC. Your trust in me has meant more than I can ever fully express, and it has had a profound impact on both my professional career and my life. But beyond everything you achieved in more than 60 extraordinary years in motocross, what I will remember most is the person you have always been: your passion, your integrity, your experience, and the respect you showed to everyone around you”.
“You are a true legend of our sport, not only because of what you accomplished, but because of the values you represented throughout your entire career. It has been a privilege and an honour to work alongside you, to learn from you, and to share part of this incredible journey with you. Thank you, Roger, for believing in me, for opening the door to HRC, and above all, for being the extraordinary person you are. I will never forget it”.
While Harvey will officially retire at the end of December, we have no doubt that it won’t be the last time we see him around a motocross track. There will surely be plenty of opportunities to bump into the former rider at some of the UK’s biggest races, and we’d expect Foxhill to remain firmly on his calendar next year.
From everyone at GateDrop.com, we wish Roger all the very best for his retirement when it finally arrives in December. Good luck, Roger!
