Kinda hard to believe that Honda cannot fix the problem...
�We can�t fix it,� Horiike said of Hayden�s clutch after a test in Japan. The mechanics have been working round the clock to come up with a solution, but another bad start would hand the initiative to Rossi. Hayden most recently won on home turf at Laguna Seca but since then he has been fourth, ninth and fifth twice. Rossi has not been off the podium in that time.
WTF!! I read somewhere that Honda Repsol has enought spare parts to build six RC211V motorcycles. Plus, with four mechanics working on it, it would only take about 4 hours to put one together. ohmy.gif
So, I don't understand why they can't just put a new clutch into Hayden's bike instead of trying to fix it? With so many spare parts laying around, you'd think it would be pretty easy to do. unsure.gif
When I told people on this board a few weeks ago that HRC was screwing Nicky, they basically told me I didn't know my ass from a hole in the ground. dry.gif
MFP-2241, Oct 12 2006, 04:02 PM WTF!! I read somewhere that Honda Repsol has enought spare parts to build six RC211V motorcycles. Plus, with four mechanics working on it, it would only take about 4 hours to put one together. ohmy.gif
So, I don't understand why they can't just put a new clutch into Hayden's bike instead of trying to fix it? With so many spare parts laying around, you'd think it would be pretty easy to do. unsure.gif
He probably already gets a new clutch every race. It must be some sort of super-secret clutch that's the only one that works in the bike they want him to ride. It was probably designed to be fine in an 800 next year, or with a lightweight like Pedrosa, and they figured they could get away with it with Nicky this season. Who knows?
I'd love to see Nicky pull out a podium or two now (or at least finish ahead of Rossi), and deserve the win, but it'd be a shame if he just squeeked by due to Rossi having mechanical problems or some other issue.
Regarding fixing the clutch: Can't and won't are two different things. (I learned that from my dad or Yoda. I'm not sure which one, but it's true.)
What's so different that they can't put a decent working clutch back in? Honda is known for throwing bodies at problems. In this case, they must not be trying hard enough. One would think with the good chance Nickyhad at the championship earlier in the season, they wouldn't screw with stuff so much that he hardly makes the top 5 anymore.
tbzep, Oct 12 2006, 07:12 PM When I told people on this board a few weeks ago that HRC was screwing Nicky, they basically told me I didn't know my ass from a hole in the ground. dry.gif
I agreed with your point then and now. (Not that I'm choosing sides.) I'm not positive if you know your ass from a hole in the ground, but I bet you do. goofy.gif
Dani is the poster boy now, though. It stinks for us, but business is business.
I've been told by someone that would know that Honda doesn't want an American to win.....even if it means that Rossi/Yamaha takes the title. Like I said....it defies logic that HRC would function this way but by reading reports and just watching what's been going on with Nicky's being forced to continually test new parts(that aren't working all that well obviously) when he's in title contention blink.gif
Das Bone, Oct 12 2006, 07:05 PM Kind of defies logic doesn't it dry.gif
I've been told by someone that would know that Honda doesn't want an American to win.....even if it means that Rossi/Yamaha takes the title. Like I said....it defies logic that HRC would function this way but by reading reports and just watching what's been going on with Nicky's being forced to continually test new parts(that aren't working all that well obviously) when he's in title contention blink.gif Sad state of affairs comp13.gif
Why would Hayden re-sign under that load of crap???? unsure.gif
baileyrock, Oct 12 2006, 07:07 PM Why would Hayden re-sign under that load of crap???? unsure.gif
More logic defied. I thought sure he would try to sign somewhere else. unsure.gif huh.gif
Maybe all the other top rides were filled by that time and he knew he'd get a third tier bike with third tier pay at best. Once again, I have no idea because I don't remember the timeline of the other top contract signings.
tbzep, Oct 12 2006, 07:12 PM More logic defied. I thought sure he would try to sign somewhere else. unsure.gif huh.gif
Maybe all the other top rides were filled by that time and he knew he'd get a third tier bike with third tier pay at best. Once again, I have no idea because I don't remember the timeline of the other top contract signings.
You would think that someone that is/was/ leading the World Championship Points for most of the year would be a Hot commodity? unsure.gif
I think even with the politics he sees Honda as his best chance at a championship. The two offers he had were from Yamaha and Ducati. I seriously doubt he would want to play second fiddle to Rossi again. Look at the points right now, there are 2 Yamahas, 2 Ducatis, 1 Suzuki and 5 Hondas in the top 10. Who would you sign with???
rjstaaf, Oct 12 2006, 07:27 PM I think even with the politics he sees Honda as his best chance at a championship. The two offers he had were from Yamaha and Ducati. I seriously doubt he would want to play second fiddle to Rossi again. Look at the points right now, there are 2 Yamahas, 2 Ducatis, 1 Suzuki and 6 Hondas in the top 10. Who would you sign with???
cough cough... that adds up to 11. goofy.gif
Makes sense other than the math, though... smile.gif
This is the first i have heard of this debacle!!!!!!! WTF is going on? Doesnt Honda want to be the bike that won the MOTO GP championship? American or not, it doesnt make any sense to be screwing Nicky around if that in fact is the case. Is HAyden saying anything at this point? . pissed.gif
It would seem that if Honda truly wants to show that it is the bike that wins and not the rider( ala valintino leaving to put Yama. on top) then they should give Nicky a solid bike. ...how do you go from 5..6 top 3 finishes in a R0W. .... to barely being able to get the f***in bike off of the line. They (HONDA) have got to be kidding if they say that can't put a clutch in the bike that works. P.S. they (honda) didn't seem to have a problem with "fast freddie" winning championships on a honda.....WTF pissed.gif
fallzboater, Oct 13 2006, 11:41 AM He probably already gets a new clutch every race. It must be some sort of super-secret clutch that's the only one that works in the bike they want him to ride. It was probably designed to be fine in an 800 next year, or with a lightweight like Pedrosa, and they figured they could get away with it with Nicky this season. Who knows?
During (whichever recent race it was that had the restart due to rain) he did much better in the second 'half' and the commentators said it was because he is very hard on clutches, and starting again with a new bike and fresh clutch made things easier for him. Also, they mentioned that his most recent RC211V was being used to test the 800 parts, and had a clutch in the middle of the engine that was very hard to access, so when it was slipping he was basically screwed.
As for who will win: my wishes have come true! I wanted the last few races to be held with the scoreboard flattened out, to make it very exciting.
BTW - Rossi's coming to Noo Zilund to race a private Subaru Impreza in the Rally of NZ! Woohoo!!
As for who will win: my wishes have come true! I wanted the last few races to be held with the scoreboard flattened out, to make it very exciting.
Sounds good. Now I wanna see Nicky win the crown. fing02.gif
I can't believe Honda can't make a clutch that works right. Ridiculous. They've made millions of them. If their engineers don't understand clutches, who does? rolleyes.gif
baileyrock, Oct 12 2006, 05:07 PM Why would Hayden re-sign under that load of crap???? unsure.gif
That was the next question I asked.
The answer I was given was something along the lines of it being better to be on or with a Crocodile when dealing with Alligators?
Didn't want to push too much but the gist I got was that being with HRC was still the smartest way for him to go career-wise regardless of all the politics and stuff going on behind the scenes that we as the public will never be privy to.
Still, it doesn't make any sense but much has been said among the moto press(guys that actually cover GP) along the same lines.............Japanese "pride" was also mentioned in the converstaion that I had comp13.gif
rad, Oct 12 2006, 07:29 PM You guys are funny, with nut'n to back it up yur say'n Honda is do'n this on purpose... that's too funny laugh.gif
I know I find it hilarious. Honda is out to win and to put an American as World Champ can only be good for expanding the american market for them. Hayden rides a bike like no other. and I bet they've figured out the problem and just want to lull the rest of the Motogp paddock into a false sense of security. The championship is Haydens to lose, Nicky knows what he has to do, so stop being a nice guy and go beat the crap out of everyone else over the next 2 rounds (this coming from a dedicated Rossi fan), don't be afraid of pushing Vale or anyone else off the track, you know you're in the big league now.
tbzep, Oct 12 2006, 10:44 PM We've shown several articles and interviews that allude to it, yet you didn't post a single one that says otherwise. wink.gif
Wait, let me put my foil beanie on to stop the rays from outter space so we can talk about this and not have "them" hear us laugh.gif
For what it's worth, I never have been a fan of speculation; if facts turn up to support the theory that Honda really won't fix the clutch so an American won't win, so be it. Until then, it is just front page National Enquirer style gossip show�n that even motorcycle types love a little drama. goofy.gif
VFR4Lee, Oct 13 2006, 04:42 AM I can't believe Honda can't make a clutch that works right. Ridiculous. They've made millions of them. If their engineers don't understand clutches, who does? rolleyes.gif
So where do the other 6 Honda riders get their clutch from, Ron Ayers, servicehonda? huh.gif
V4 Rosso, Oct 13 2006, 06:23 AM So where do the other 6 Honda riders get their clutch from, Ron Ayers, servicehonda? huh.gif
That's a good one! laugh.gif
Actually I think Hayden is on and has been on the Developmental bike all season and runs different parts then all the rest. Everyone else is on the tried and true RC211 Honda's including Padrosa. They have been testing out different stuff all year and so he may not even be running the same clutch set-up. unsure.gif
Actually I think Hayden is on and has been on the Developmental bike all season and runs different parts then all the rest. Everyone else is on the tried and true RC211 Honda's including Padrosa. They have been testing out different stuff all year and so he may not even be running the same clutch set-up. unsure.gif
That's exactly what's been happening his season and yes the clutch package he has been running is different.
once again, i'm going to play the devil's advocate here - because the running theories presented above just seem prepostorous to me.
honda and all the major manufacturer's are involved in racing so that they can sell more product. part of that formula is winning. intentionally losing isn't good for sales.
""They've said there is something for Estoril and I'm sure they can come up with something. We tried different plate combinations but we still haven't cured our problem.
"There's nothing new really, but the order in which they were running the plates and different thicknesses of the plates.
"I used the standard clutch for most of the test, which has always been not too bad for the starts, but then it won't backshift out on the track, so that's still the same.""
As far as being up in arms about pedrosa not being ordered to help nicky win... that's the way it should be. I'd rather they keep the F1 style team play out of motoGP. Pedrosa is still mathematically in the hunt, remember.
You think Edwards would let Rossi by if he was actually fast enough for that to come into play?
Fact of the matter is that Hayden needs to start racing instead of just hanging on and hoping too many people don't outpace him. He'll have the best possible clutch configuration HRC can give him, given his bike's configuration limitations. He needs to make it fast or Rossi will take another title this year.
superchode, Oct 13 2006, 05:26 PM honda and all the major manufacturer's are involved in racing so that they can sell more product. part of that formula is winning. intentionally losing isn't good for sales.
One thing you are forgetting is that Honda already has the MANUFACTERS TITLE. They have already proved that their bike is the best. They no longer have anything else to prove. As far as Honda NOT wanting Nickky to win.............maybe, maybe not, I don't know.
Crash1973, Oct 14 2006, 12:07 AM They no longer have anything else to prove. As far as Honda NOT wanting Nickky to win.............maybe, maybe not, I don't know.
There is also no need for further development of the RC211V clutch so they're likely to use the best they have avialable to get the bike on the front row and the podium.
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