Parkalgar Honda World Supersport team manager Simon Buckmaster says he'd choose a 'skilled, motivated team' over extra top speed every time.
"I read in the press and hear commentators on TV talking about how Craig's Parkalgar Honda could be faster. That just infuriates me," began Buckmaster in his latest team newsletter. "To be a contender in any championship is more than just having a fast bike or a great rider, it is a full team effort. Give me a choice between an extra 2kph or a skilled, motivated team, and I'll take the team every time and it is the right choice.
"To make a successful team you need all the ingredients to be in place, you cannot win if you just have a fast bike or just have the best rider - you need both along with the technicians with the knowledge and experience to make it all happen. Even then if your management structure is not in place bad organisation and tactics can still stop you achieving your potential.
"I am very proud of the Parkalgar Honda team and the efforts the staff have made to get us to the strong position Craig and Miguel are now in. Born out of hard work and determination, Parkalgar Honda is utterly focussed on the job in hand and I wouldn't change a single thing about the team.
"Whilst some teams were away testing in December we did not even have a workshop until one week before Christmas. From that point my chief technician Mark Woodage and the boys [Mark Beeton, Chris Hunt, Ben Fry and Angus Brooke] worked unbelievably hard to prepare two complete bikes so we could do our one and only shake down pre-season test at Almeria. We were joined there by two more fantastic technicians from Portugal - David Lazzaro and Victor Moreia.
"The team then came back and in just one week built two more bikes for Craig and Miguel and got some dyno time in before the bikes had to be shipped to Qatar on 11th February. There was a lot of long hours and sacrifice from everyone in the team at that time and it is down to that effort that we started the season with a fighting chance.
