Honda have this morning announced its plans to build a new supersports bike in the spirit of the RVF750 (RC30), prompting huge speculation there will finally be a V-four powered Fireblade or equivalent World Superbike contender.

Rumours of such an update have grown ever stronger with the introduction of the RC213V MotoGP bike, which is a V-four and moved further away from the original V5 RC211V, itself the subject of much the same racer-for-the-road conjecture.

"Since its market introduction in 1987, the RC30 (VFR750R) super sports bike has been loved by a large number of fans. With a goal to create a new history, passionate Honda engineers have gotten together and have begun development of a new super sports bike to which new technologies from MotoGP machines will be applied," said Honda CEO Takanobu Ito.