Saturday, July 14, 2007
Honda or ... not Honda?
With Hopper emigrating to Kawasaki along with Capirossi, Melandri to Ducati, and Pedrosa getting most of the pressure and the blame for the lack of results of the new bike, I have yet to read something explaining how Honda intends to solve its 2007 flop. Last year, the Honda- Repsol Team was able to win the championship with Hayden’s podiums, Rossi’s misfortunes and with a competitive bike that was evolved earlier by Valentino and his boys. Indeed so far the RC212V has not won a race and even if someone will be able to do it before the end of the season, the bike remains a lemon. For years, if not forever the HRC Team has been considered the ultimate Team, the team that has been behind most of the world champion stories of the modern era, but today the same team doesn’t seem to be as appealing as we think and the lack of rumors in the pre-market season seems to confirm it. Probably the Japanese will end up importing new talents from the 250 or from WSBK but with what promises? In fact they too could turn to be other Pedrosas ….
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5 comments:
So, Pedrosa wins the race by a long way. Honda's problem solved?
The trouble is, we don't know how fast Stoner would be if his tyres lasted or how fast Rossi would be if he didn't jump off the bike.
A speculation is by definition a conclusion reached by a series of assumptions built on the recent past. Checa and Hayden have recently welcomed certain bike's improvements (I think that Hayden has received a new frame) but even after Pedrosa's victory I wouldn't rush in declaring that Honda is out of the woods. Sunday was a very strange race ... with a strange final podium
You're right, that has to be the strangest podium of the year!
Hayden and Pedrosa are both very quick at Laguna, Rossi is slower than Edwards there, and Ducati had a terrible time there last year. It will be fascinating to see what happens next weekend.
I certainly have to make Nick Haydon a favorite this weekend. He loves Laguna, has won the last two there and is very happy, at the moment, with his Honda. Pedrosa's win just shows what an unusual race last week was and does not prove that he is a real contender. Colin Edwards could grab a podium also, but will Yamaha allow him to finish ahead of Rossi, and take away points, should that situation arise? And, hasn't Stoner shown what a mature and smart rider he has become. If bike and tires are not great, take what you can get, don't make mistakes and go to the next round. Valentino must stop putting himself in bad positions where he must push to get to the front. It is easier to win if you are all ready there! Hot weather may favor the Michelin riders, but does the Yamaha have a problem in heat? We have much to contemplate. This is what makes it all interesting.
With the Yamaha overheating Vale has an extra reason to be leading the race. Last year he said that even though the tried to ruin the party to the Americans, he couldn't but at least he was able to learn valuable lessons. I hope that he will have the opportunity to learn the secret lines of the cork screw ...
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