sadlerau
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After this weekend's MotoGP, at the post race test, Honda will introduce an all new chassis for their riders to try, in an effort to overcome the tyre chatter issues both riders have been complaining about this year.
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/181868/1/all-new_honda_for_mugello_motogp_test.html
Apparently it was to have been next years bike, but if the riders like the new chassis, then they will use it this year. They will also be trying the latest updates to the motor, which should give even more power!
Must make Rossi squirm when he finds out!
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P54
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http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/nakamoto+mugello
Nakamoto on new bike and rider line-up for HRC
Nakamoto on 2013 line up and Monday test
Thursday, 12 July 2012
HRC Executive Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto spoke exclusively to motogp.com about the team’s future rider line-up, as well as the 2013 bike, which could even be implemented this year.
The Japanese outfit revealed today that it had not only retained Pedrosa’s services for another two years, but had also signed Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol’s Marc Márquez for the same period of time. Speaking about the rider line up, Nakamoto said: “Next year we have a very strong team. Dani, everyone knows he’s very strong. He’s never won the championship, but every time he’s had some accident or injury. But this year he’s in very good condition and he’s clearly showing his potential. Also Marc, we don’t expect too much for the beginning of the season, but we believe he will be able to reach the top level in the middle of the season. Even though Marc is a rookie, he will be good for the bike development. But Dani’s comments are the most important thing for us.”
He also disclosed that at Monday’s test, the team will be testing two 2013 specification machines, which may even be run this season, should the riders like them. He commented: “Monday we will have a completely new machine. We will bring two, one for each rider. Originally this bike was next year’s prototype, but we have to fix the [bike to cope with the] new tyre’s construction. We decided that if the riders are happy, we will use this machine even for this year.”
He kept tight lipped on what the specific changes were, but also said that a new engine would be tried out as well: “And also we will bring a new specification engine. The basic specification is the same, but it has a little more power. The bike looks very similar, but has something different - I can’t give details. Chattering is the biggest problem for us, but it’s not only chattering. The front tyre squashing too much [is a problem] as well. [Solving everything] is not easy.”
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K25
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The new bike better be good... Because if not I'm afraid our riders won't be able to keep up with Lorenzo in the title race.
The new BS tyres really messed Honda's plans this year...
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dampflok
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K25 wrote:
The new bike better be good... Because if not I'm afraid our riders won't be able to keep up with Lorenzo in the title race.
The new BS tyres really messed Honda's plans this year...
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Honda Dream
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Lorenzo win was quite predictable, he could have won even at Assen if not the unfortunate accident. The championship would be already over.
Dani is at the moment the hope I guess having a look at the championship chart even though I really don't know what happened to Casey in last two GP and actually this season. I think his retirement is a part of some psychological problem even though his results (3 wins) are not bad. His Sachsenring DNF was so unnecessary - he should have settled for second behind Dani and he would be the title favourite. I hope I am wrong on that (Casey problems) as he is generally faster then Dani but he must win almost all the remaining races to defend his crown. He is almost 40 points behind Lorenzo and that means 8 wins if he is not helped by some events which will obviously happen.
At least we are definitely in the hunt for teams championship with Repsol and we have quite good chances to win the constructors even though Yamaha is in the lead after this race I think.
We (Honda) are doing fine just in prototype racing having in mind ALMS and LM24 especially, and in touring with Honda Civic in BTCC. We are behind in Indy loosing ground on Chevy (3:7 in race wins and 5:5 in poles) in both championships. Looks like we need some luck in the second half of the season to win the titles. At least we have done it in the highlight of the season - the Indy500 and LM24 LMP2 prototype!
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K25
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I think Stoner's problem is the bike... The simple truth is that The Honda this year - with the new softer carcass BS tire - is not a very competitive machine compared to the M1. It has a few issues that are making it hard to handle and apparently hard to set-up.
Stoner struggled with the set-up a few times this season (Pedrosa too) but managed to turn things arround in the warm-up on Sunday's. In Mugello however, his set-up struggles were even worse and this time he couldn't turn it arround on race day. Even so, he was catching the group fighting for 3rd before his brakes issue forced him off track.
Stoner is not the type to settle for 2nd when he has a shot at winning. His off at Germany is normal when you're on the limit trying to win. I don't think the problem is Stoner. The problem at the moment is the bike that is not good enough. I still expect Stoner to beat Pedrosa in the championship despite being 18 points behind him after Italy.
Let's hope the riders like the updated bike on Monday's test. They still have a chance if Honda solve their issues before the summer break.
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sadlerau
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It is very interesting that the only rider able to tame and win on the "wild" Ducati could not get comfortable on the Honda at Mugello!!
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/101224
And the chatter which was making him uncomfortable was a contributing factor in his "off" during the race - it knocked back his pads and didn't give enough braking into that corner :(
It will certainly need a lot of bad luck on Lorenzo's part for the Honda riders to bridge the gap - and as much as I'm a Honda fan, I wouldn't wish bad luck on him!
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CB77
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Regarding Stoner: I think you are right…this has become a mental thing with him. He has made the decision that his riding career is ending, so why risk death or permanent paralysis and screw up a good life with his pretty wife and new child.
Also, I imagine the couple of recent hard crashes have made him think a lot more about the possibility of severe injury or death...forcefully making the point that it CAN happen to you, no matter how good you are. I can recall from my very limited, amateur motorcycle racing days, that it took me a long time to be able to gas it really hard again, after a hard crash. Of course he is a professional, and has learned to largely put this out of his mind. But it has to have some effect.
It is probably a lot safer leading a race than being back in the pack dicing with a lot of guys of varying ability fighting for the same racing line. It’s sad, I would like to have seen him go out on top.
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CB77
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Stoner's getoff in Germany
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CarPhreakD
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K25 wrote:
I think Stoner's problem is the bike... The simple truth is that The Honda this year - with the new softer carcass BS tire - is not a very competitive machine compared to the M1. It has a few issues that are making it hard to handle and apparently hard to set-up.
Stoner struggled with the set-up a few times this season (Pedrosa too) but managed to turn things arround in the warm-up on Sunday's. In Mugello however, his set-up struggles were even worse and this time he couldn't turn it arround on race day. Even so, he was catching the group fighting for 3rd before his brakes issue forced him off track.
Stoner is not the type to settle for 2nd when he has a shot at winning. His off at Germany is normal when you're on the limit trying to win. I don't think the problem is Stoner. The problem at the moment is the bike that is not good enough. I still expect Stoner to beat Pedrosa in the championship despite being 18 points behind him after Italy.
Let's hope the riders like the updated bike on Monday's test. They still have a chance if Honda solve their issues before the summer break.
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The setup problem relates to the fact that HRC must run with stiffer suspension settings to control tire squirm on braking. The flipside of that effect is that the rock hard suspension is also causing chatter issues. Repsol team had their entire chassis developed with the tires in mind, and the mid-season switch might well be their undoing.
On the other hand, the customer Honda teams with more general chassis aren't suffering from quite the same issue. Riders like Alvaro Bautista actually claim the opposite- the new tire provides more feedback and is helping him quite a bit. This was the original intent of the new tires, by the way (as a "safety" measure, by providing riders with more feedback so they don't go off)
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sadlerau
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Also interesting that Stoner doesn't like the 2013 chassis tested at the Mugello test day, while Pedrosa is willing to try it at Laguna Seca this weekend.
I hope Honda can get a handle on it for next year. I suppose it is important for them to follow Pedrosa's lead now, as Stoner wont be there next year.
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