Can somneone tell me what HRC have won this year, infact can youy tell me if there is a sinlge series they have dominated in apart from National racing on two strokes?

MotoGp they sucked, BSB they sucked, WSB?, AMA?

Just struck me the weekend that they dont seem to have done anything this year?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Luke &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can somneone tell me what HRC have won this year, infact can youy tell me if there is a sinlge series they have dominated in apart from National racing on two strokes?

MotoGp they sucked, BSB they sucked, WSB?, AMA?

Just struck me the weekend that they dont seem to have done anything this year?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree there does seem to be a crisis at HRC. In BSB they started off strong but somehow managed to lose the championship. In Moto GP it seems that the Repsol team has been struggling mightily with set up but if not for Rossi they'd be leading the championship handily.

People keep criticizing Nicky for struggling with results but both Barros and Biaggi failed to get any race wins with Repsol even though both of them were able to win with Camel Pons. Something is not right on the Honda factory squad. Maybe the vacuum left by Jerry Burgess and crew going to Yamaha was too big to fill?

American Honda's team in AMA and Ten Kate in WSBK are not running HRC leased bikes. Ten Kate could have definitely won the championship had they gotten an earlier start on development judging from Vermuelen's strong results late this season.

But yeah HRC doesn't have any championships this year to speak of. They won the 8 Hours of Suzuka at least, but they almost always win that anyway, and its just one race.

 

Are we not counting AMA Formula Xtreme? Because Hondas are winning there.

Then again, if you were the only factory in a class, you better be winning...

Do Duhamel and Zemke use HRC bikes?

 

None of the American Honda bikes are HRC leased bikes although I know the superbikes have some HRC bits on them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMU R1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">None of the American Honda bikes are HRC leased bikes although I know the superbikes have some HRC bits on them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yup. American Honda started to do all there own work this year, complaining that HRC takes way to long to solve problems in the past. I believe they still use some HRC parts but they didn't want to rely on HRC solely for service and new parts to fix problems on the bike. It has been a long standing complaint with HRC teams that you tell them what's wrong or what's not working and you get the parts to fix it a few weeks later.

 

And supposedly all this hard work by American Honda will pay dividends next season in SBK. I hope so. I'm a fan of close-racing, but I'd like to see it close between more than two manufacturers. (at least in SBK)

 

They certainly gained a lot of ground to catch up to the others in SBK towards the end of the year in AMA and WSBK.

 

For me, though, I gained more enjoyment watching Vermuellen and the Ten Kate team scrap it out in WSBK than AMA's Duhamel and Zemke. That, and watching Haga ride the wheels off that R1 is fun.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladeboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">For me, though, I gained more enjoyment watching Vermuellen and the Ten Kate team scrap it out in WSBK than AMA's Duhamel and Zemke. That, and watching Haga ride the wheels off that R1 is fun.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm starting to love WSBk more and more. I think a lot of it has to do with the announcers and the tracks also.

Who is the racer that helps with the commentary for WSBK? He's ******* awesome.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RebornGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm starting to love WSBk more and more. I think a lot of it has to do with the announcers and the tracks also.

Who is the racer that helps with the commentary for WSBK? He's ******* awesome.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sorry, not a clue. But, I'm sure he's better than any of the witty commentators we get for AMA races. Except Greg White.

 

I get the impression that little, if any, development is happening in the Honda camp for the MotoGP bikes. I am probably wrong becuase I am new to the series, but we see Ducati coming on strong now with better tires and Rossi just winning whenever he feels like it (usually the last lap or two).

 

yes, i think it's called complacency and hubris. sitting too long at the top made them arrogant, perhaps alienating their own (like Rossi). too bad, i like honda and i think they make great bikes. they have the technical know-how, i think they're missing "heart," like in "Rocky," if you know what i mean.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by falcongsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I get the impression that little, if any, development is happening in the Honda camp for the MotoGP bikes. I am probably wrong becuase I am new to the series, but we see Ducati coming on strong now with better tires and Rossi just winning whenever he feels like it (usually the last lap or two).</TD></TR></TABLE>
I think Bridgestone is finally working out some long-term kinks they were having with tire-longevity. Even Tamada got tired of waiting and jumped to Michelins. Plus, Capirossi has had a good streak of luck lately.

As for Rossi, well, he could probably win on the KR Proton machine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ladius &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yes, i think it's called complacency and hubris. sitting too long at the top made them arrogant, perhaps alienating their own (like Rossi). too bad, i like honda and i think they make great bikes. they have the technical know-how, i think they're missing "heart," like in "Rocky," if you know what i mean.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you've ever met anyone involved in Honda Racing you'd never say they lack "heart". You're right on the money though, historically HRC in particular has gone through periods of being stubborn and arrogant and several times that has led to some losing years. Had Honda not been so arrogant back in the 60's they Giacomo Agostini might have had a few less championships to his name.

Contrary to appearances the RC211V is indeed being developed and I believe at least 2 evolutions have come out this year. The reason it has not been winning can be summed up in one word. Rossi. Without Rossi Honda would be in 1st, 2nd, and 4th place in the championship, easily winning the constructor's title.

I don't really see the situation as Honda's technical superiority being compromised. The RC211V is still pretty much the best bike on the grid. The problem is that it is not superior enough to beat Rossi's superior skills (and his superior crew).