Honda's RCV road bike debuts at Eicma

HONDA'S new RCV-based road bike has finallly broken cover after years of speculation that the firm was working on such a machine.

The RC213V-S was unveiled this morning as a protype but is listed as a 2015 model.

No details have beeen released as yet but it's clear it's based on the 1000cc world-championship-winning RC213V MotoGP bike raced by Marc Marquez.

The prototype was ridden onto a stage at the Eicma motorcycle show in Milan this morning by world champion Marquez, who joked: 'This is my road bike, made just for me.'

The machine ridden by Marquez was matt black with carbon-fibre bodywork while a second version shown in press studio shots is in the colours of the Japanese flag.

It's the second prototype to be unveiled by Honda at Eicma, the other being a caked-in-mud adventure bike looking very much like the long-awaited new Africa Twin.

Honda said in a press release: 'Developed by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and Honda Motor, the RC213V-S is a road going prototype of the awesome Championship winning MotoGP RC213V machine. Inspired by, and developed with input from many legendary GP riders, the RC213V-S Prototype is set to be the ultimate road going motorcycle.

'Two machines have been presented; a static bike painted with a distinctive Japanese flag to mark 100 years of the EICMA show, along with a fully functioning, running version clothed in full carbon-fibre, fittingly ridden onto the stage by 2013/14 MotoGP champion, Marc Marquez.'