Honda's RC211V may not have raced since the end of 2006, but it's record of winning grands prix with more riders than any other MotoGP bike is a long way from being challenged.
Rather than gaining ground with its all-new '08 racer during the off-season, Honda's factory team has found itself in the unexpected situation of working its way back towards the proven 2007 design.
By Peter McLaren Despite finishing second in the 2007 world championship with Dani Pedrosa, Honda is gambling on an all-new RC212V to try and regain the MotoGP crown - but at present it's slower than last year's bike.
A wet track in the morning delayed the start of testing until midday, when Hayden ventured out to resume engine comparison work he began yesterday aboard the 2007 machine.
The bike is described as an evolution of the 2007 machine - which won the season finale at Valencia on Sunday - but features a new V4 engine with, as rumoured, pneumatic valve springs, plus an all-new chassis and exhaust system.
Repsol Honda riders Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa made their debut on the 2008 spec RC212V during Tuesday afternoon at Valencia, at the start of the first post-season test session.
As previously reported, to be part of Team KR's unique 'thank-you' fans simply had to register their name, or the name of a friend or family member, on the team's website before October 29th.
Repsol Honda team manager Makoto Tanaka admits HRC still has "a lot of work to do" in order to make the RCV competitive in time for the season opening Spanish Grand Prix, at Jerez on March 26.
After spending the past seven years at Suzuki, former 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr took a real step into the unknown at Sepang today when he completed his first ever laps with the brand new RCV powered 'KR211V' - which the American will race for his father's team in the 2006 MotoGP World