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Home :: News :: Article

FEATURED NEWS

MOTOGP: 'Yellow Flag' Blame Game: Honda Sends Complaints to FIM
The blame game has erupted in a controversial aftermath to the now infamous “yellow flag” incident at Phillip Island during the Australian Grand Prix.

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MOTOGP: 'Yellow Flag' Blame Game: Honda Sends Complaints to FIM
Written by: Colin Young
Motegi, Japan – 9/26/2006
Title rivals Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden (Photo: Getty Images / Robert Cianflone)

The blame game has erupted in a controversial aftermath to the now infamous “yellow flag” incident at Phillip Island during the Australian Grand Prix.

Honda escalated the warfare on the eve of the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, revealing they had sent a strongly worded letter to the FIM, the world controlling body.

SpeedTV has now obtained a copy of the Honda letter.

The Honda letter was highly critical of Race Direction and in part, called “into question the ability of this group of people and their capability to perform such duties.”

The letter was signed by Suguru Kanazawa, President of the Honda Racing Corporation.

Although it did not mention Valentino Rossi by name, the letter raised the stakes on the Phillip Island incident when Race Direction missed Rossi’s yellow flag pass on Australian rider Casey Stoner.

The move was at a critical moment of the race with American rider Nicky Hayden briefly changing his race strategy as he anticipated a penalty when he saw Rossi's move form behind.

Rossi finished third, with Hayden fifth, a result that closed the points gap in the world championship.
Click on the image to read the original letter Honda sent to the FIM

After viewing more detailed video evidence, Race Director Paul Butler apologized to Hayden for the error, admitting that in hindsight Rossi
perhaps had a case to answer for passing under the yellows.

HRC boss Kanazawa made a pointed reference to the letter, addressed to the FIM chief Francesco Zerbi, at the Honda-owned Motegi Circuit.

Kanazawa insists that the current rule must be changed and a higher level of competency demanded of officials in Race Direction.

The Honda letter triggered a hurried response from the Grand Prix Commission who issued a statement, which now lays a large part of the blame on the volunteer corner workers and flag marshals at Phillip Island.

The GP Commission called an extraordinary meeting on qualifying day at Motegi and issued a statement just prior to the start of the race on Sunday.

In part, the GP commission statement says: “Immediate action includes a letter sent by the Race Direction to the Australian organization pointing out the failings of their officials that caused the controversy.”

This is at odds with Butler’s unwillingness on the Sunday evening of the Phillip island race to blame the corner workers, who come under the radio control of the Clerk of Course and Race Direction.

Privately, Honda are unimpressed with the attempt at blame shifting and they continue to insist the yellow flag rule needs to be clarified, perhaps to enable a post-race penalty to be applied.

The GP Commission say they intend to “closely examine the regulations” and will also make an in-depth study of new technology to assist race officials in reviewing these incidents.

Butler said the technology would mainly be increased cameras and video replay machines, plus additional assistance of officials, in monitoring the TV evidence during a race.


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Makoto Tanaka, Suguru Kanazawa and Nicky Hayden are the same person. Just for clarification.

Of course Ooost, its like when Jeremy Burgess says something, he's really just on a telepathic line with Rossi, and they complete each others sentence.

Hows about reading your own article before posting it R-46?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Sep 26 2006, 12:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Makoto Tanaka, Suguru Kanazawa and Nicky Hayden are the same person. Just for clarification.
Come on man.....that's NOT the way to welcome a new member...by the way....if Honda lodges a complaint, although they are not all the same people, are you saying that Nicky isn't involved...I find that hard to believe. For a guy that is typically very objective, you are taking on a very nasty edge in Nicky's defense these days....I wonder why that is......play fair man.....


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (IsraeliRacer @ Sep 26 2006, 12:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Of course Ooost, its like when Jeremy Burgess says something, he's really just on a telepathic line with Rossi, and they complete each others sentence.

Hows about reading your own article before posting it R-46?

you're not really helping here man......thanks for the useless criticism of a new members article.....

Nicky is not involved in any capacity mentioned, therefore I won't jump to any conclusions about his possible involvement.

I didn't notice that he was a new poster, but it's still a silly topic to start, blaming a rider for something he didn't say or even say he agreed with.

I'll clarify for all:
Nicky sucks....

Haha, R46 that bike of yours is badass man.
Don't worry about Ooost, he is just pissed his rider is going to lose the championship. He's usually a nice level-headed fella.

Just f-ing with you about Niky Ooost. But yea, R46, Ooost is usually a nice guy!

^ nah Ooost is in London man, the place has rubbed off on him a little, he supports Millwall FC has turned into a right beer swigging football Hooligan and got some London attitude.

Playing Ooost.

Thanx for bringing the article to us R 46, I heard Montoya had taken his first crashcar test today.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Doc 79 @ Sep 26 2006, 07:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Come on man.....that's NOT the way to welcome a new member...by the way....if Honda lodges a complaint, although they are not all the same people, are you saying that Nicky isn't involved...I find that hard to believe. For a guy that is typically very objective, you are taking on a very nasty edge in Nicky's defense these days....I wonder why that is......play fair man.....
I don't know how much to do with the complaint Nicky had, do you? Publicly, his last comment on the matter was the Motegi Thursday press conference with Rossi and they agreed to leave it. My guess is he's unhappy about the decision but I don't think he would have to twist any arms to get a corporation such as Honda to lodge such a complaint. I am as objective as possible and always at least try to look at the situation from each viewpoint, but there is only so much "Hayden does not deserve the title" talk that a fan of his can take, especially when allegations such as this begin pointing fingers at a rider for actions his factory took. But like I've said in many of my past posts, each member has his or her own opinions and who am I to challenge that? I just ask that mine be respected as well.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dazza @ Sep 26 2006, 09:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>^ nah Ooost is in London man, the place has rubbed off on him a little, he supports Millwall FC has turned into a right beer swigging football Hooligan and got some London attitude.

Playing Ooost.
Millwall? Come on Daz, I'm from Kensington, it's expected that I like Chelsea so they hold a soft spot in my heart but they aren't my club. I love Gerrard but can't support the entire Liverpool squad, unfortunately, my dislike for Dirk Kuyt is too strong (no offense M). My two real squads are Arsenal and Man United. And yes, beer swigging, football hooligan with a London attitude describes me pretty well as of late. Cheers Daz.

BTW, when are we getting a pint?

Just my opinion guys:

The fact that Nicky was somehow involved in that incident (coz he saw what vale supposedly did), does not guarantee that the actions taken by HRC coincides with his own judgment.

But, absence of proof is not proof of absence.

But I'll go on to say that since the letter nor the article does not made mention of Nicky, and that he clarified at Motegi that he's okay with the issue, I'll rule out Nicky's involvement, unless you can find another evidence that proves otherwise.

I'll also say that I will agree with anyone who would start the campaign to change/clarify the rules, and make a penalty applicable even after the race. I mean, come on, it's really hard to make a judgment in that instant. It will take a sound review of an incident to make a sound judgment.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Sep 26 2006, 04:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't know how much to do with the complaint Nicky had, do you?

Yo man...not to beat a dead horse, but I do. I have close friend that I went to engineering school with that works for Honda. He designs cooling systems for use in Honda streetbikes and frequently travels to Japan. He said that the buzz around his area is that Nicky put up a big stink after the race and Honda took the heat for him to keep him out of the line of fire.....just an FYI.....

Ask Nicky and Honda are they pissed about it after Valencia, if Rossi wins by a point. Course he's pissed about it.

That letter sounds a bit more like "Don't let it happen again or we'll break yer fkin legs" Very HRC

Honestly, it does sound likefrom thewording that, although Honda claearly think it was unfair, they're not trying to get any descisions on the incident revoked, I think they're just pissed off that it happened and they're pointing out obviuos flaws in the system that need to be fixed. That's just my opinion.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Doc 79 @ Sep 27 2006, 03:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yo man...not to beat a dead horse, but I do. I have close friend that I went to engineering school with that works for Honda. He designs cooling systems for use in Honda streetbikes and frequently travels to Japan. He said that the buzz around his area is that Nicky put up a big stink after the race and Honda took the heat for him to keep him out of the line of fire.....just an FYI.....
That could very well be, I don't know anyone on the inside at Honda. But in all honesty, if it were any other rider would you expect anything different?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Sep 27 2006, 08:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ask Nicky and Honda are they pissed about it after Valencia, if Rossi wins by a point. Course he's pissed about it.
Spot on Skid.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Sep 27 2006, 09:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That letter sounds a bit more like "Don't let it happen again or we'll break yer fkin legs" Very HRC
Funny how similar HRC is to the mob.

I don't know racing rules about yellow flags but I would think it makes sense a flag would be waved to warn of danger down stream-past where the flag is waved not up stream. When rossi passed Stoner he passed him before the flag. I wonder if this is the reason no action against him was taken. And if so, why doesn't someone who knows the rules come out and say it,
Do I say it because I like Rossi ? yes . Look at him , he is points behind and he gets 3 rd or 2nd comes in 5 or 8 sec. behind Capirossi and he says he is happy, he smiles , doesn;t complain and doesn't whine. I think I will see the same attitude from him if he looses the championship by a point. Some one said : "can you imagine nicky if he looses the championship by a point" yes I can imagine Nicky , if he looses by a point.

Good of you to get stuck in motogp

Welcome to the party!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Sep 27 2006, 05:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That could very well be, I don't know anyone on the inside at Honda. But in all honesty, if it were any other rider would you expect anything different?

I hear you, I'd be pissed too....I guess my point is that if Nicky hadn't been in this slump of his, and in danger of dropping the title to a guy who by all rights "shouldn't" have been "able" to catch up to him.....he'd have never complained.....its an ego thing....its what happens when you try to explain circumstances that aren't going in your favor...sometimes you grab the wrong straw.....

It's what happens when you have a competitive spirit. Consider it this way, Rossi is on form as now and Hayden is struggling, if Nicky were to make the pass under the yellow flag and Valentino saw it, do you think he would just let it slide or would he say something? Every rider on the grid would say something if they were in a championship battle, I don't believe it has anything to do with Hayden's recent form.

If I was in a race and I saw a rider pass another with a yellow flag I would have complained too because tules are rules!! Even if it was fighting for last place!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (motogp @ Sep 27 2006, 08:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Do I say it because I like Rossi ? yes . Look at him , he is points behind and he gets 3 rd or 2nd comes in 5 or 8 sec. behind Capirossi and he says he is happy, he smiles , doesn;t complain and doesn't whine. I think I will see the same attitude from him if he looses the championship by a point. wow u don't know the doc well do ya? he won't take losing buy 1 point or 10 or 50 very well. i'll never forget his face during the interview when gibernau beat him in the last turn at the sachsenring in 03. he was'nt smiling to much.

^ I wasn't able to watch that interview...had to dig that up. But you're right I could have sat behind him and pulled those cheeks a little bit so it would look like he was smiling