Honda outfitting Talon 1000R with hand-control driving aids
To assist former professional motocross racer Blake Savage, who in January suffered a spinal-cord injury (SCI), American Honda recently teamed up with Manufacturing & Production Services (MPS) to prepare a Talon 1000R sport side-by-side that is specially equipped with hand-control driving aids.
Savage, the brother-in-law and trainer of Team Honda HRC racer Ken Roczen, has been testing the prototype in the desert near his family’s St. George, Utah, home, often posting images of his outings on social media.
MPS has produced high-quality disabled driving aids for over 40 years, for both on- and off-road applications. As a result of this project, MPS hand controls for Honda Talons are being offered to the public, opening a new world to individuals who are confined to wheelchairs or are otherwise disabled.
“One of Honda’s core values is to improve people’s lives through mobility, so it has been particularly rewarding to work with MPS on this project,” said Chris Cox, American Honda’s Experiential Marketing and Press Manager. “They’re doing great things to provide drivers of all abilities the chance to expand their capabilities while enjoying the outdoors. We’re close with the Savage family, so we’re thrilled to see Blake back in the driver’s seat, this time in a Talon.”
“The team at MPS was excited to have the opportunity to install hand controls in the Honda Talon to get Blake back in the dirt,” added Michelle McGowen, Marketing and Promotions Manager for MPS. “It has been gratifying to see the videos of Blake tearing it up in the Talon.”
“I’m extremely grateful to Honda and everyone at MPS who made this happen,” Savage said. “This has been a really hard time for me, but this specially equipped Talon opens up a new world of possibilities. I’m back to blasting sand washes and skimming whoops, but this time on four wheels instead of two. It’s brought a huge sense of freedom and adventure that I didn’t know if I’d be able to experience again. Thank you again to everyone.”
The Honda Talon models can now be equipped with a variety of hand-control styles to fit the individual needs of each driver. For more information, visit MPSdrivingcontrols.com.
