MOTOGP » Honda's engine dilemma continues…

Chirs/

Are u kidding? HRC needs money from a spanish sponsor to stay in MotoGP.
Then, I'd like to know how big is the market share the spain or spanish people?
Honda is one of biggest auto/motorcycle manufacturer on Earth. Period.
If you are doubtful, go to Honda website, check the sales volume of their product worldwide.
Honda becomes so big like the IBM late 70s and early 80s. Their racing teams don't need to win championship to increase sales compared to 5 years.

I guess they have poor and inefficient management of MotoGP teams. Also, Honda might hesitate put their best resources - engineers and technicians - into the MotoGP teams.

nabi i have to agree with you...
Honda is the biggest motorbike manufacture in the paddock... sales has never been and never will be their problem. and i don't think that supersport bikes is the most soled product... i think they sell much more motocross's and enduro bikes...
so i think the motogp project is not in here highest priority.
it is important for them to be in the top but not to be champions

Chris..I would have thought HRC provides the equipment plus a base budget to go racing to the race team? Repsol sponsorship money could be used to pay for the rider/s and additional costs to help make the team competitive? Are Pedrosa and Hayden employed by Honda directly or their team via Honda and/or Repsol or is the team fully controlled by Honda and Repsol pays a fee for naming rights. Either way this is very messy and nothing like the in house structure of Ducati which must be able to move far more quickly and better than these factory outfits that have really outsourced the operation of their actual racing program to a third party.

Nabi, I did not say that HRC (which is only the Honda racing department), needed to have a spanish sponsor to stay in MotoGP. BUT, when HRC gets in the neighborhood of $100,000,000.00 US a year for being a "title" sponsor from Repsol......they have to listen. I have never been doubtful of how big Honda is. I do agree with you on your last point though : ) The biggest oil company in Spain (Repsol) does speak loud for a country that holds TWO MotoGP's a year though! ; )

CA, agreed!! It is messy at Honda. I do not know first hand what the exact details of the Repsol deal is, but I do know that Repsol pushed for Pedrosa to be on THE "factory" HRC team, and that the HUGE sum of funds that Repsol pays in goes to a number of different things (salary, r&d, travel, press, etc.) Both are employeed by Honda as well as their title sponsor (Repsol). HRC is suposed to be in control, but when you have a huge sponsor that wants their boy to have the best, you can see that there is a possibility of some pressure from the Spanish Repsol brass. --Slideways151--

"HAPPY NEW YEAR" MARCUS and all Chinese MotoGp fans and Loncin for the year of The Rat

Rossi would/could not return to HRC????
Well that will depend a lot on what happens this year wont it..... I put this to the doubters though IF neither HRC OR Rossi win the title back this year...and presuming Rossi of course seriously still wants to continue on? what then would be his absolutely best and realistic and likely option at regaining the title in 09....... HRC

Anyone who thinks Honda wont do anything to win is kidding themselves, The way things are looking come the end of 08 Rossi likely will seriously have little option I reckon.

Then again if Casey wins in 08... all bets are off as politics could rear its ugly head! contracts get torn up ahhh.....
Picture HRC going after Casey with a *** offer do good to refuse. That would leave the door open for a Rossi/Ducati scenerio??? I could see that unfolding potentially.

Either way seeing Casey or Rossi on the HRC Honda or factory Ducati is what it will take before these two can go at it properly, it would seem to me, thats presuming Rossi is as good as he reckons he is of course

George said
"it said the springer is Danis, so that mean the air-valver is his. just because its not ready yet, doesn't mean they aren't supporting him"
I think you've misunderstood - both of the conventional spring engines are the 2007 motors- there were two versions, one that Dani liked, one Nicky liked. The springer that has been slotted into the pneumatic's frame is Dani's setup. Nicky doesn't like it (according to the articles) because it's down on power in order to gain tractability (a normal tradeoff - refer the Aprilia triple (02/03) which had a higher topspeed than anything but was unrideable

JL = MotoGP fan with factual knowledge! Can't wait to see the season unfold! --Slideways151--