Here today gone tomorrow?

http://uk.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUKSP35028920090123

By Alastair Himmer

TOKYO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co may withdraw from most forms of motorcycle racing in a bid to cut costs, although it has no plans to pull out of MotoGP.

Japan's second-largest carmaker (7267.T), which has already left Formula One, hopes to save an estimated 3 billion yen ($33.73 million) as the worldwide economic crisis continues to bite.

"We have not formally decided yet but we have been looking into the option of pulling out," Honda's Akemi Ando told Reuters on Friday.

"It is something we have been thinking about for a while since we pulled out of Formula One. We have no plans to leave MotoGP."

Motocross, motorcycle trials and other forms of off-road racing will be the main victims of Honda's latest cost-cutting measures.

Honda, which has forecast a 190 billion yen operating loss for the fiscal second half ending in March, withdrew from Formula One last month to reduce costs amid a slump in global car sales.

They have won 14 premier class motorcycling world titles, their breakthrough triumph coming in 1983 and most recently with Nicky Hayden in 2006.

Honda's works team will not be on the grid for the popular Suzuka Eight-Hour World Endurance Race in July, but the company pledged its commitment to the event at its home circuit.

"It's not strictly accurate to say Honda are pulling out of the Eight-Hour race," said Ando. "It is true that our works teams will not take part.

"But Honda supplies bikes and technical support to many of the teams and 60 percent of the bikes on the grid will still be Honda bikes."

The worldwide economic downturn was blamed for Honda's decision to quit F1 and the subsequent withdrawal of rival carmakers Subaru and Suzuki from the world rally championship.

Japanese motorcycle maker Kawasaki also followed suit earlier this month by pulling out of MotoGP.

($1=88.94 Yen) (Additional reporting by Yumiko Nishitani; Editing by Peter Rutherford)