Honda hints at unchanged rider line-up for 2017

JPSLotus · Jan 11, 2016

HRC vice-president Shuhei Nakamoto has hinted that the Repsol Honda MotoGP team will stick with an unchanged rider line-up for the 2017 season.

The Japanese factory has run Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa for the last three seasons, and both Spaniards’ contracts are up for renewal at the end of 2016.

Pedrosa’s uncertain form in the first half of last season, which was interrupted by a forearm operation, had led to speculation that Honda could seek a replacement for 2017.

But his results improved late in the year once he had recovered, the 30-year-old taking wins at Japan and Malaysia, and Nakamoto hinted that he and Marquez will both be retained for at least another season.

“In the second half of the year [Pedrosa] was very strong, with two wins,” the Japanese told Marca. “Some fans criticised him, but Dani is a fast rider.

“Marc and Dani, our line-up for 2016, is the best combination to me. As their contracts finish this year we have to talk about a renewal.

“We haven't done it yet, but I think we'll be able to announce it halfway through the season.”
Marquez still "number one"

Nakamoto added he believes that Marquez is still the best MotoGP rider in the field on pure pace despite his difficulties last season, when the two-time champion registered five DNFs due to crashes.

“Marc couldn't fight for the championship last year, but from a speed point of view he is the number one,” said Nakamoto. “Had he finished those races, he would have been champion.

"He always tries to win every race, but now he knows that winning the championship is much more important.

“Marc is still a very young kid, he needs more experience and I think last year's result have helped him understand this.”

Guess that Vinales to HRC move wasn't as forgone a conclusion at the moment.

Probably easier to have MM as a defined #1 with Dani on the other bike. If Vinales comes there, it's not as easy to do this. Plus losing Stoner as a test rider probably hurt HRC more than they will admit. MM isn't at the point where he can develop, and bringing in Vinales would mean you'd have two guys who won't be able to develop.

Deefer Dogg · Jan 11, 2016

Seems the best approach Nakamoto and HRC can take. Coming out with these comments takes pressure off Pedrosa and allows time to see if he can continue the pace with which he finished last season. Also keeps the option of changing the lineup if the pace or fitness aren't there.

Jumkie · Jan 11, 2016

I don't think it's a development issue as much as perhaps they don't want to deal with two kids who'd probably kill eachother out on track. Or end up having a ..... fight. I also wonder if Santi & Alzamora have any influence on this. I'm sure they don't want a fast kid with as much ambition as Marquez in the same garage.

When Viñalez had his hissy fit in Moto3 it eliminated me from rooting for the lad. I don't have much tolerance for self entitlement. But so far I haven't seen him act the fool yet in GP.

Viñalez to take VR's seat. Or take Lorenzo's if Rossi has his way. Either way he will end up on a factory Yamaha or Honda at some point.

JPSLotus · Jan 11, 2016

Jumkie said:
I don't think it's a development issue as much as perhaps they don't want to deal with two kids who'd probably kill eachother out on track. Or end up having a ..... fight. I also wonder if Santi & Alzamora have any influence on this. I'm sure they don't want a fast kid with as much ambition as Marquez in the same garage.

When Viñalez had his hissy fit in Moto3 it eliminated me from rooting for the lad. I don't have much tolerance for self entitlement. But so far I haven't seen him act the fool yet in GP.

Viñalez to take VR's seat. Or take Lorenzo's if Rossi has his way. Either way he will end up on a factory Yamaha or Honda at some point.

I feel like it's got to be a combination of both development and the oil/water mix those two would bring to the team.

If you took Dani away, who is really going to develop the RCV? 2015 doesn't give me a lot of confidence in MM's ability to develop a bike since it turned into a hodgepodge of 2014 and 2015 parts. I would love to know what the breakdown of parts from each season turned out to be ultimately in the second half of the season.

Good point about Vinales to Yamaha. I feel less certain about what Lorenzo's future there is, especially after the way 2015 ended. I'm sure if VR has his way, JL will be out of the team.

Deefer Dogg · Jan 11, 2016

Don't think Rossi will get his way on that. Yamaha have already backed Lorenzo once and must know he is the more likely to bring long term success.
They must also be aware that there is nowhere else for Rossi to go apart from retire so he can have as many complaints about his team colleague as he wants but it doesn't really matter.
Getting rid of Lorenzo and replacing him with Vinales doesn't make sense as very soon Yamaha could find themselves in the same situation that Honda look to avoid.

557953 · Jan 11, 2016

be interesting to see where Yamaha go with that, we will see if they wanna win more races with JL or sell more motorbikes with VR.

On Honda yeah it makes sense to keep Dani for Dev, clearly Marquez age and relative inexperience won't help with development... BUt don't see him as a Dev rider anyway, he won his first 2 titles and probably doesnt really know how he did it.
Pedrosa can certainly drive progress, Stoner and Marquez have both jumped on bikes Dani had much input in and rode them to 3 titles in 4 years. So for that reason and also as they seem (far as I know) to get on pretty ok it makes sense too maintain for a while as long as Dani is being a good team mate, which he usually is... Nicky may disagree!

#22 · Jan 12, 2016

At the end of the day I think Honda will just take Dani on a year-by-year basis if they continue. At the end of the day as long as he continues riding like he did the second half of 2015, there is no need to replace him.

MigsAngel · Jan 12, 2016

#22 said:
At the end of the day I think Honda will just take Dani on a year-by-year basis if they continue. At the end of the day as long as he continues riding like he did the second half of 2015, there is no need to replace him.

Exactly....and he is the one only rider that been giving HRC the consistent good development direction for the last 10 years.....as soon HRC listened to MM the bike started going the wrong way....

I would be surprised if Dani isnt much sought after by KTM for 2017 by making him an offer that HRC would unwilling to match....

Regarding Yamaha, depends on how Jorge gets on with the Michelins in the first third of the season....if he struggles then and Ducati come a calling with a big number then Jorge will be more than tempted to jump ship.....

Keshav · Jan 12, 2016

MigsAngel said:
Exactly....and he is the one only rider that been giving HRC the consistent good development direction for the last 10 years.....as soon HRC listened to MM the bike started going the wrong way....

I would be surprised if Dani isnt much sought after by KTM for 2017 by making him an offer that HRC would unwilling to match....

Regarding Yamaha, depends on how Jorge gets on with the Michelins in the first third of the season....if he struggles then and Ducati come a calling with a big number then Jorge will be more than tempted to jump ship.....

Interesting idea. You really think KTM has that kind of dough?

povol · Jan 12, 2016

Keshav said:
Interesting idea. You really think KTM has that kind of dough?

Dani really isnt making that much with Honda. They had him over a barrel last contract and he signed for considerably less than he had made before. Around 3 mil is what I've heard compared to around 4.5 to 5 mil in the past.

michaelm · Jan 12, 2016

povol said:
Dani really isnt making that much with Honda. They had him over a barrel last contract and he signed for considerably less than he had made before. Around 3 mil is what I've heard compared to around 4.5 to 5 mil in the past.

I don't know who would have input into the bike development if he left, but the Honda enginners historically have not thought they needed much of that, and I doubt HRC would get into a bidding war over Dani particularly given their number 1 rider being Spanish would presumably be enough to keep Repsol happy. I think they would only engage in a bidding war for a rider they regarded as having difference making talent vs the Yamaha riders, and they already have MM, and indications would seem to be that he or his management anyway want clear number 1 status.

povol · Jan 13, 2016

michaelm said:
I don't know who would have input into the bike development if he left, but the Honda enginners historically have not thought they needed much of that, and I doubt HRC would get into a bidding war over Dani particularly given their number 1 rider being Spanish would presumably be enough to keep Repsol happy. I think they would only engage in a bidding war for a rider they regarded as having difference making talent vs the Yamaha riders, and they already have MM, and indications would seem to be that he or his management anyway want clear number 1 status.

Where is the idea coming from that MM can't develop a bike . If I remember correctly the same thing was said about Dani , Lorenzo, Nicky, and Stoner at various times in their career. Actually the narrative for years was that Rossi and Burgess were basically the only ones who had that magical power.

Gaz · Jan 13, 2016

povol said:
Where is the idea coming from that MM can't develop a bike . If I remember correctly the same thing was said about Dani , Lorenzo, Nicky, and Stoner at various times in their career. Actually the narrative for years was that Rossi and Burgess were basically the only ones who had that magical power.

This is something I used to love as we were also told at the same time that CEII was the development rider for Yamaha

As we have said many times in this forum (various posters), a riders job is not to develop a bike that their rivals can ride, it is their job to develop a bike that they can ride, ride fast and ideally on which they can win.

michaelm · Jan 13, 2016

povol said:
Where is the idea coming from that MM can't develop a bike . If I remember correctly the same thing was said about Dani , Lorenzo, Nicky, and Stoner at various times in their career. Actually the narrative for years was that Rossi and Burgess were basically the only ones who had that magical power.

AS I said particulary at Honda the engineers probably just do what they do. MM himdself has commented about stoner's development abilities, and despite the Ducati debacle it would seem from what Yamaha has said from time to time that Rossi did have input into the 2015 bike which was a pretty good one.

povol · Jan 13, 2016

michaelm said:
AS I said particulary at Honda the engineers probably just do what they do. MM himdself has commented about stoner's development abilities, and despite the Ducati debacle it would seem from what Yamaha has said from time to time that Rossi did have input into the 2015 bike which was a pretty good one.

I'm sure Rossi had input as well as Lorenzo had input on the past and current Yamaha and in no way is Stoner responsible for Honda's woes as he and Matquez both told Honda there was a problem with the 2015 RCV. What I'm asking is why all of a sudden ,the narrative that they need to keep Dani because if he left , there goes the development rider. What are people basing this on.

yamfan · Jan 16, 2016

BT Sports clown commentators Toseland and Hodgson said Lorenzo can't develop or setup a bike... Yeah right.
They strongly intimated Rossi was the man developing the M1 because Jorge would just complain and ride round any problems.
That said neither makes any bones about being Rossi fanatics and took any opportunity to mock or criticise Jorge, especially in the early season. Hodgson even agreed on live tv that Rossi was right about Marquez protecting Jorge at Valencia.
I thought commentators were supposed to maintain a certain level of impartiality and professionalism?

Search

Search

Honda hints at unchanged rider line-up for 2017

JPSLotus

Deefer Dogg

Jumkie

JPSLotus

Deefer Dogg

557953

#22

MigsAngel

Keshav

povol

michaelm

povol

Gaz

michaelm

povol

yamfan

Similar threads

Recent Discussions