On the track: It's early, we're at Laguna Seca and its not raining, but the track is wet and cold.

I'm up in the first group and the Dunlops are unscrubbed and shiny sticker new. There are seven actual RC-51 to go around, along with some VTRs and an RC45 for comparisons.

Three-time world champion Freddie Spencer slams us around the track in a packed 12 passenger van, sharing words of wisdom about riding in the rain. I listened!

Back in the pit lane we fire up the bikes and tip-toe around for two laps. After it warms-up, the RC51 starts making these wonderful cam gear noises and the exhaust starts getting really raspy. The chassis/engine balance, right off the bat, you know it's right. Trying to be smooth with both tires and the track still cold and wet, the gentle easy inputs into the RC51 translated into smooth easy changes of direction and lean angle. Honda put 101mm of trail into the RC51 and that results in a high degree of feel in the front, it's very confidence inspiring.

The riding position is purpose specific, with the handlebars reported to be 70mm lower than a VTR, the seating position copied from a NSR500 Grand Prix bike, but surprisingly comfy. The RC-51 is thin all the way through the middle, from the tank to the foot pegs and fits nicely.

The track surface starts drying just a bit if you stay on line, so I start driving hard exiting the corners and my, my, my, this motor wants to rev. The powerband is not flat at all, it starts out strong and just takes off from there with a nice hit towards the top. It doesn't flatten out on top like a Ducati, it feels real good to give it the stick. Then we're waved in. The next group of riders laughingly thanks us for drying out the track and being their tire-scrub lackeys. Now I'm really looking forward to my next stint.

In the pits, Honda has brought four previous generations of their Superbikes. A snarling 1023cc CB900F Superbike that Freddie fired up and rode, Bubba Shobert's VFR750, a Mike Hale RC30 and the RC45. It's nice to see them recognizing their history in Superbike racing.

And in attendance representing the rider side of the equation are Miguel DuHamel, Freddie Spencer, Kurtis Roberts, former Superbike and dirt track champion Bubba Shobert and Jeff Haney. It's nice and entertaining to see these guys at the track when it's not serious business.

A quick swallow of water, clean the shield on my Arai, and then we're back on the track, the dry line has expanded and the tires are warm.

Okay, time to roll. I start booming the RC51 around Laguna Seca like it's our own private Romper Room. On the second lap, Cycle World's Brian Catterson breaks the ice, ventures slightly off-line behind me and crashes in turn 10 on a VTR and, folks, we now have an official press launch underway.

I start to pick up the pace a bit more, the balance, control and feedback all allowing me to carry more speed into the corner, make an easy turn-in and then get on throttle early on the exit. There's absolutely nothing to "ride around", the RC51 is totally cooperating on all fronts. The shock linkage ratio is said to be nearly identical current spec RC45, and we all know how long they spent working that one out.

The fuel injection functions beautifully, seamlessly and the engine responds immediately, real nice overall control with the throttle, and that combined with my new, favorite V-twin motor starts to make for some serious fun. The engine spins up so nicely and the powerband is peaking just right and I find myself running into the rev limiter more than a few times, partly due to the deceptive nature of how most all big twins build speed. I've a fair amount of saddle time on the other popular V-twin sportbikes and it is easy to say, the RC51 has them all covered in the horsepower department.

Horsepower is fun on the RC-51, and hmmm, does it like to wheelie? Oh, yes, and it pulls those nice floating-type power wheelies that you can just carry on demand. Gotta love it.

The Corkscrew at Laguna Seca has always been one of my favorite parts of the track and I know the "correct" line through that corner; but what was interesting for me was just what the RC51 would let me do in the corkscrew: hero stuff of my dreams where I go in hot and flop the bike over at the far edge, with my knee hovering over the rumble strip, or turn it in early and wheelie off the top, you name it and the RC-51 was up to the task. I AM Miguel DuHamel! Me and the RC51, we're really getting along, we could be long term partners I just know it.

When I return to the pits after this stint, I start asking myself, what better bike have I ridden? I've owned several Suzuki TL1000s and an R, a Kawasaki ZX10, Yamaha TZR250 and have a semi-street Kawasaki ZX7RR as my weekend in the canyons bike. I've spent some time on a Hayabusa, Ducati 916, a 1998 GSX-R750, the 2000 MV Agusta and a 1999 Yamaha R1. I ponder that question but nothing comes to mind, nothing quite matches the RC51 for the combination of big, friendly power, impeccable chassis refinement, balance, feel and outright raw performance. As good as the RC51 looks on paper, in the flesh it transcends all the numbers. I look over and see the quiet posture of pride as RC51 Project Leader, Mr. Saito, stands atop the pit wall, watching. Must be a good feeling.

Honda told the media that it is "Golden Time" for all motorcycling right now, but especially for Honda, as sales are way up, 25% from the prior year. Record numbers of sportbikes were sold.

Honda truly seems to have put all the pieces together in this RC51, and when they bring us a motorcycle like the this just to start off the new century, just imagine what the future holds.