HT Rally Raid has become the official Rally2 team for Honda Racing Corporation, both parties announced Friday. As part of the deal, HT will begin fielding the new Honda CRF450RX Rally along with getting factory-level support and access to resources.

“We’re really happy to announce today our renewed cooperation with Honda HRC and HT Rally Raid,” said HT Rally Raid boss Henk Hellegers.

“From today on, we will work together and start together the new project as official Ready2 team for HRC Honda. With this machinery and the tools we have now with our team, our proven team and with the new bike, we’re really confident to give all the riders the best tools to perform at the best ability.”

HT Rally Raid previously worked with Honda in 2013 when the Japanese manufacturer revived its rally raid division.

Since then, the Dutch operation has been the lead Rally2 team for Husqvarna. They fielded five Husqvarna 450 Rally Replicas at the Dakar Rally in January, including one in the premier RallyGP class for Aaron Marè. Honda is currently represented in RallyGP by reigning W2RC manufacturers’ champion Monster Energy Honda HRC.

The Honda partnership will begin with the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal in September. Until then, HT will continue with Husqvarna for the upcoming W2RC race in South Africa, where Massimo Camurri, Gustavo Milutín, and Ian Olthof are entered on Husqvarna 450s.

The CRF450RX Rally is a rally replica of the CRF450 Rally used by Monster Energy HRC. HRC became the bike’s official kit supplier in February.

Featured image credit: Irina Petrichei / Edophoto / DPPI