HRC really breaking with the past...

....they didn't renew Doohan's contract and he's gone from Honda after over
15 years.

....pablo

 

Looks like almost everyone had to fall on their sword. Maybe that's why
Ito is working for Ducati. Even the test riders clearly didn't do their
job as Rossi won.

In other news MCN is reporting that Sete will get a third "best"
factory" RCV and that there were loads of HRC technicians all over him
when ever he came into the pits during Sepang testing.

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Third best still means bveing clearly ranked below HRC, so at least it seems
Honda is going to have a clear rank order this year. They have to stick to
it, though, and not create the uncertainty of 2004 again, because it must
affect riders' motivation. Whatever we think about whether Biaggi or
Gibernau being the best choice to challenge Rossi, the key for Honda is to
clearly stick to a pecking order and not start the whole backdoor rumor
thing again.

But yes, Honda seems to have really cleaned up. A Spanish paper reported
that a main team member, Koji something or the other, who had been perceived
as part responsible for Rossi's defection and the lack of a Honda strategy
for it, was also demoted to a lesser role, Japanese corporate style.

....pablo

 

I think Honda know he's new to grand prixs, but think that he'll steadily
improve into a champion.
Think of all the guys who raced those tracks for years and came up through
125 and 250.

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Did Roberts Sr, Spencer etc etc need over 3 years of acclimatization?

Hayden isn't new to GPs anymore. He is firmly entrenched among the top 10
riders already. Probably top 5. But it's time to fulfill what seemed to be
his calling: to become a top championship candidate - he already is
potential-wise, it's time for it to translate to points. I'd even venture to
say that if Hayden starts the season with the same machine Biaggi does, the
interesting battle may be for internal Repsol HRC dominance. Hayden is
entering his prime, Biaggi in his mid-30s may be past the desperate-to-win
phase.

....pablo

 

That's your usual paranoia taking over. Chances are neither Gibernau nor
Biaggi will beat Rossi, which has happened before, and that the threat may
come from somewhere else. Biaggi and Gibernau are the established quantites,
but they're also established as unable to win against Rossi 1-on-1. On
material equity, Rossi is the better rider, and will beat them. What may be
needed is a new challenge. The challenge may come from an unexpected source,
which would be far more exciting: perhaps Hayden, perhaps someone else.

In my opinion, *NEITHER* Biaggi *NOR* Gibernau will beat Rossi unless Honda
gives them a very significant all-around bike advantage. Given that view,
which I have repeated often, it is idiotic to claim I am some huge Gibernau
fan irrationally trying to make a case for his riding genius. Without that
bike advantage, what it will take for a Rossi challenge is that one of the
younger guys makes a break-through in riding confidence: Hayden, perhaps
Melandri on the new bike (off chance, I admit), Xaus on a stronger Ducati,
or even perhaps Edwards torpedoes the Yamaha vision of him being captain
under Rossi's undisputed generalship. Because I do not expect riding
break-throughs from Biaggi or Gibernau.

....pablo

 

Not everyone can "get it" that fast. Look at how long it took Sete.


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I can't recall Sete winning a championship. Is he the absolute reference for
what Hayden ought to accomplish? Or do you just gratuitously assume that
because my name is "Pablo", I'll be conditioned to just to think it's time
to shut up when the Gibernau argument is made ?

 

You must have been in some mean flames. It is weird how some fans aren't too
international/universal.

Anyhow -- Sete went from years of not doing much to becoming what you might
agree is Honda's most consistent rider. Compared to that, Nicky is learning
fast, after having ridden a 2-cylinder superbike previously, much like the
one Edwards got his championship on.

I won't debate it alot. Just my thoughts.

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But he's not a reference for what Hayden ought and hopefully should
accomplish. But to give Hayden newbie status is to dminish him. Hayden *is*
one of the best already. He scores podiums and he does finish among the top
5 with clock-like consistency. The only remaining question is whether he's
destined to plateau there, or whether he's going to move up one notch and
become true MotoGP championship material. Now, in his riding prime.

I like Hayden a lot: his progression has been consistent, methodical - just
the way it should be for a very fast and smart rider. And based on
interviews I read he seems a really balanced person - nice but without too
much fake humility thrown in for effect. Hm, kind of like Rossi. Both of
them seem more likeable than either Biaggi or Gibernau if you ask me, who
seem too artificial -and according to rumors none too nice at all behind
closed doors- to get my emotional vote for the championship. However, may
the best -and to some degree luckiest- man win, and it'd be nice if it
finally isn't Rossi again. Hayden would be my top emotional vote. He's
worked hard, he's progressed smartly, he deserves it. Hayden also is the one
who I think has the biggest potential to make a breakthrough. But if he
doesn't this year, I think it somewhat sadly is an indication he's plateaued
where he's at, at below-Rossi-slightly-above-Checa level, so to say, as a
consistent top rider, but one unlikley to win the championship going
forward. This year will shed light on that.

....pablo

 

A plateau wouldn't have to be permanent.

I hope his knee doesn't get to him.

I agree with what you said about his amiability. He was always modest, but
in motogp he looks a bit empowered too.

It does look like he has more of the team he needs this year.

Coming in 4th in the test was pretty good, although a few others fell on bad
luck. It should be very interesting to see how the Honda riders adapt to the
new 2005 bikes.
--
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Yeah I agree, it seem the champs make there mark fairly quickly, within
2 or 3 years, Hayden has arguably had opportunities but I really think
this has to be his year, at least this year or next year or forget it,
Biaggi this year period, no winno this year Biaggi you will never win,
same Gib's, Melandri, Hmmmm see how he does do this year but I get the
feeling he won't be a MotoGP champ. The rest well I don't think there
are any rest, not putting down Rossi, thats assummed I mean the other
rest, hopefully there will be new fast talent migrating from 250 and ???
and where else? Hell Superbikes ain't gonna provide the talent anymore,
pity Superbikes used to be real exciting now it's just bike racing.

Paul

 

Hmm.. how about Vermeulen, think he's got a pretty good chance of ending
up in the top of MotoGP.

Phil.

 

And Bayliss!

If he can get to grips with the Honda, in the next couple of test
sessions & prove his worth with lap times, maybe he could score some of
the *good bits*. He's certainly got the balls to mix it with anyone if
he's got a good setup.

Bummers

 

For the record, there is not a single fact that indicates that. There was
talk about it immediately after the championship, but then Honda said "no" -
it was widely published in the Spanish sport press, along with Gibernau's
disappointment. Nothing since has been officially or inoffocially stated
that changes that. Incidentally, it's the right thing for Honda to do
strategy wise - they need focus. And they are focusing on Biaggi. Who also
happens to deserve it, no doubt about that.

And for the record, in '04 *both* Gibernau's and Biaggi's team got exactly
the same HRC official lip service, with identical press releases issued by
both. The story about the many different levels of support is merely
personal speculation on your part. I am not saying it's not possible, but
you state it as a well known fact that simply isn't.

I have no doubt direct HRC support -as Barros got- rules supreme. The rank
order behind that is open to speculation, anyone's speculation, and the
equipment rank order you claim as factual nicely correlates with your
personal riders likes and dislikes every time, and is freely used as what
you label "excuses" when your particular favorites don't rank up front. It'd
be refreshing if you admit to that for a change.

But the only established fact is that you don't have any more insight into
the true equipment pecking order than the rest of us. There might be that.
or it might simply be riders' and/or teams' ability or inability to build
the best possible bike with the various, all in all equivalent, parts they
have at their disposal.

The only thing that we can truly count on are the results.

....pablo