Has anyone raced a Honda xr80r

It will work out to get him used to riding a bike.....he can start out on the pee wee and pitbike tracks. but for racing for a 9 year old, they need to be on a 2-stroke 85. or if he isnt too big a 65 may fit him better to start racing. Most kids in this age range are on either of these two size bikes

My son and i started out trail riding and then he wanted to try racing.He had an xr 70 and i told him he could race with it and if he liked racing and tried at it i would buy him a 65.So the little bugger went and won the summer series championship.He beat all the 50cc ktm's and cobras.
The club we belonged to used to water the track right before the mini races and while the race bikes were all struggling in the mud and slippery stuff he just blasted through it like it was nothing.

This was his first year of racing,

Honestly, an xr is not a racebike. If I was you, I'd try a ktm 65, the power is less, but it's a two stroke. It has a much better suspension, and a better bike all around. Take him to a few practices at your local track on the xr, and see how he does. If he's doing good, get the 65. If not, let him get some more seat time in, and move up accordingly!

This is my story with my kids. I bought my son a KX65 for X-mas, I bought my daughter a CR85 expert also for X-mas, neither had ever rode a motorcycle before. 11months later my son is still terrified of the power band. Seriously it never gets into the real power. So I decided to get rid of it and put him on an xr80 so he can get more comfortable with it. I think you made the right move getting him on the XR first. On the other hand my daughter has 2 wins under her belt and a broken wrist plus she can lap her brother at will. My son is timid so I should have gone the route you went. My daughter is balls to the wall........