Starting out as a conversation between me
and Stu, my head started spinning around. Looking at the Ilmor X3,
thinking why they're not doing better.
Facts are they're using Öhlins spring, Akraapovic exhaust systems and
Michelin tyres, so why aren't they doing better? It can't be the
materials they're using.
So from one thing I thought about something else, reading Marco
Melandri's Diary on his website (you should really read it when you
have time for it). He stated there that his season was one of the worst
he had. He explained that the Michelin tyres were bad for his riding
style, and they had dramatically changed from the 05 season to the 06
season. And Honda didn't put in as much as he had hoped for. So he
struggled all season long, and surprisingly winning the most GP's in
2006 than any other Honda rider. Doesn't that tell you anything? On a
bike which he doesn't feel a 100% comfortable on.
So Michelin and Honda left him in the dark, Gresini thinks it's time
for a change, so he switches to Bridgestone tyres, with a contract in
his back pocket which was signed during the season between him and
Honda, providing his team with a Works HRC bike for Melandri. Melandri
wrote in his journal that Bridgestone's putting in a 110% effort to
commit to Gresini Racing, and suddenly Honda is focussed again cause
well, isn't it great to see someone picking up hot charcoals from the
fire?
You''ve now got a works bike on differen't tyres, riding on it all
season long, AND there's a second bike for Elias which isn't a works
bike, but another bike who's riding on Bridgestone tyres. Lot's of
telemetry for Honda to check out and judge, Honda's getting gold handed
over to them for well, FREE!
As for the 2006 season, wasn't it obvious? Honda doesn't want this
American to win the title! Yeah well it saves them alot of pennies on
the USA Market selling bikes, but who cares. Honda's backed up by
Repsol so Repsol makes the rules. They want a spannish rider to win the
title. Not the one-day flyer Nicky Hayden! So I hear you
think who's that spannish rider?! Well it's Daniel Pedrosa!
This winter will be hard on Nicky, lots of PR festivaties, and promo
thingies, in places you and I can only dream of, but Nicky is send over
from this to another place, getting more and more tyred. Funny huh?
Well Nicky will suffer the same as Alex Criville will. He'll burn-out
all because Honda has the title and that's enough for them.
So what's the thought behind all of this? Well while Dani's crousing
around and getting a rest Nick is working hard! So the new top guy of
Repsol Honda is there next season, Daniel Pedrosa, a Spannish Rider on
the Honda. Big PR for both of them and I mean Repsol and Honda, Dani's
just a tool in this all!
Smart thinking by Valentino ;-) leaving the Repsol Honda ship!
See ya soon!
TT98-XL
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