Why Honda is sitting out the MotoGP demo during the United States GP

One of the highlight attractions accompanying the United States Grand Prix weekend is a MotoGP demonstration run, with four of the premier class's five manufacturers represented in Austin.

The sole absentee is Honda, but why has the Japanese giant—which also competes in Formula 1—passed up this opportunity? The answer comes down to rider availability, as Honda has no one on hand to ride the RC213V at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas.

Aprilia (Lorenzo Savadori), Ducati (Nicolò Bulega), KTM (Dani Pedrosa), and Yamaha (Andrea Dovizioso) all dispatched test riders to Austin, but both of Honda's test riders are currently on the injury list. Takaaki Nakagami was injured at the Japanese Grand Prix three weeks ago, while Aleix Espargaró is still recovering from a serious injury sustained during private testing in Malaysia earlier this spring.

Additionally, Honda's World Superbike Championship (WSBK) contingent, whose season wrapped up last week, is currently tied up with testing duties in Europe. As a result, the factory Honda MotoGP squad is running a solitary entry with Luca Marini at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix. Teammate Joan Mir is still recovering from illness, with the team hopeful that the 2020 world champion will return to the grid in Malaysia next week.