How about 90 miles per hour from a 50cc motorcycle in 1962? That’s what Honda’s legendary CR110 gave its riders. The CR110 featured a little marvel of an engine – an air-cooled four-stroke with four valves, double overhead cams featuring an eight-speed transmission, this tiny 140 lbs. wonder could rev to 14,000 rpm and pumped out 8.5 horsepower. I’m certain the riders who raced this machine were themselves diminutive. In spite of the considerable technology that went into the CR110 it was still out powered by the two-strokes of the era. Luigi Taveri won the damp Finnish GP and finished third in the final series standings. This artwork is from the late, great Masaki Okamoto.

The Honda CR110 50cc GP racing machine as illustrated by Masaki Okamoto.