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HRC chief has a dig at Rossi!

R

RCV600RR

Joined Oct 2007
2K Posts | 486+
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http://www.gpone.com/index.php/201205026767/Nakamoto-Rossi-in-HRC-Impossibile.html



This is my translation (not literal) from Italian, by HRC Chief Nakamoto.



"After Rossi left Honda, he wrote a book, stating that the rider is more important than the bike. Now, he should show it. If he becomes competitive again, we'll do everything to beat him."



He also said: "We have two perfect riders in Honda so he has no possibility to return to us in the factory team. But each satellite team makes their own choice about who to sign".







Contrast this with:



http://motomatters.com/news/2009/09/06/hrc_both_stoner_and_rossi_are_welcome_to.html



In 2009, he was saying how Rossi is welcome back to Honda!
 
Hmmmm... and I just read the gpone article where Suppo states that Honda may well try to make room for Marquez!!



And apparently Casey wants a one year deal HRC offering two. "I know Casey. We have not yet started a real negotiation, but with him it is useless and counterproductive to pressure. And 'better left quiet at this time."



Peders may have lots of time for sailing on his hands - Ahoy!!
 
Now Honda seam to feel the pressure of having Casey Stoner on their bike. Majority rules changes. Any similarity to Ducati here?

Translation from the article:



"From my point of view, there are tires, 2012, no special codes, which we have developed the RC213V. Tires were at Sepang test with a different casing, called 21 and 24. Our pilots have chosen the 24, but all the others preferred the Bridgestone 21 and decided by a majority. It does not interest us, as long as we allow you to use the original tires. But they do not want to produce them after Catalunya to start from scratch and does not benefit anyone. We should design a new bike as new tires, but we do not have enough time so we must find other solutions. Since Bridgestone became the sole supplier of tires, it never happened that changed their supplies in the middle of the season. They say it's a matter of safety, but our drivers have opposing opinions and test results prove us right. What will happen if our drivers will have accidents after Silverstone? Who is responsible? We develop everything based on empirical evidence, but it seems that Bridgestone are trying to change the situation, based on hunches. "



Rossi part translation:

What do you think of the results of Valentino Rossi this season?

"It is clear that it is in difficulty, but was quick in the wet. He has talent, and expect me to do some good races. After he left Honda, has written a book, claiming that the driver has over the bike. Now he must prove it. If competitive returns, we will do everything possible to beat it. will be a great motivation for us, and anyone who needs it in MotoGP. "



There are chances that you go back to Honda or Yamaha next year?



"We have two very good drivers in Honda, so it has no chance to get back with us in the team. But each satellite team riders are free to decide to put under contract."
 
Sounds like he got a good one in for Honda, he's also said he doesn't understand why Ducati keep going in the same development direction with the bike.
 
Um....Nakamoto's(i.e. Honda) assertion that its the bike not the rider still doesn't hold water. They didn't win an 800 title until Mr. Stoner straddled the bike who is uber talented. Many ways to look at it I suppose, or I'm not understanding the translation?
 
L8Braker said:
Um....Nakamoto's(i.e. Honda) assertion that its the bike not the rider still doesn't hold water. They didn't win an 800 title until Mr. Stoner straddled the bike who is uber talented. Many ways to look at it I suppose, or I'm not understanding the translation?
Click to expand...

Might be referring to rossi being unable to win on a ducati rather than to honda.
 
michaelm said:
Might be referring to rossi being unable to win on a ducati rather than to honda.
Click to expand...



I think you're right Michael, though L8braker has a point... Nakamoto kinda shot himself in the foot with that comment. Though the quote is quite interesting, in that he mentions satellite teams...
 
Honda made big improvements to the bike before CS arrived, but I agree Casey is a massive part of the success
L8Braker said:
Um....Nakamoto's(i.e. Honda) assertion that its the bike not the rider still doesn't hold water. They didn't win an 800 title until Mr. Stoner straddled the bike who is uber talented. Many ways to look at it I suppose, or I'm not understanding the translation?
Click to expand...
 
English translation is up on GPOne now....



Valentino was 10th in Qatar and 9th in here. What do you think about that?

"We see he is struggling but he was fast in wet. He is a talented rider and we all expect him to do a good race. After he left Honda, he wrote a book and said it is the rider what matters and not the machine. So now is the time for him to prove that. If he comes back to the top we will try desperately to beat him. That will be a good motivation for us and we all need that in MotoGP."





Read more: http://www.gpone.com/index.php/en/201205026767/Nakamoto-Rossi-in-HRC-Impossibile.html#ixzz1tjX5D7GA
 
L8Braker said:
English translation is up on GPOne now....



Valentino was 10th in Qatar and 9th in here. What do you think about that?

"We see he is struggling but he was fast in wet. He is a talented rider and we all expect him to do a good race. After he left Honda, he wrote a book and said it is the rider what matters and not the machine. So now is the time for him to prove that. If he comes back to the top we will try desperately to beat him. That will be a good motivation for us and we all need that in MotoGP."





Read more: http://www.gpone.com...l#ixzz1tjX5D7GA
Click to expand...





Looks like everybody is lining up to redress Rossi's past jabs. I fully expect Biaggi and maybe even Sete to throw out something.
<




Though L8, you made a good point previously. HRC dude has a bit of egg on face considering their 800 bike sucked balls and their darling rider they designed around is still sucking balls. Now suddenly HRC dude feels he can talk ...., but no Stoner, no title, which means Rossi was half right, the rider does make a big difference.
 
Jumkie said:
Looks like everybody is lining up to redress Rossi's past jabs. I fully expect Biaggi and maybe even Sete to throw out something.
<
Click to expand...



This guy looks suspiciously similar to ol' Gibbers.



Sete.jpg
 
Jumkie said:
Though L8, you made a good point previously. HRC dude has a bit of egg on face considering their 800 bike sucked balls and their darling rider they designed around is still sucking balls. Now suddenly HRC dude feels he can talk ...., but no Stoner, no title, which means Rossi was half right, the rider does make a big difference.
Click to expand...



I don't see it the same way to be honest here Jum.



Yes, Nakamoto is definitely having a major 'dig' at Rossi, no doubt there and to me is essentially saying 'well, you say it is the rider so put up or shut up'.



But, I don't see him as having so much 'egg on his face' as you and others say as he is not (yet at least) saying 'see, we told you it is the bike', nor does he allude to it (what people want to read into or read between the lines is up to them).



To me, he is essentially saying that 'here you are Mr Rossi blaming the bike when previously you said the rider was the critical component'.



Sure, some may see it differently but to me he is not saying the bike is crucial (although he may well beleive that to be the case given his role) but is saying 'prove it'.



But like others, I too see an interesting comment with regards to satellite teams and that did potentially sound an open door, but one must also wonder whether Honda would 'encourage' teams (by threats) to look elsewhere
 
Gaz said:
I don't see it the same way to be honest here Jum.



Yes, Nakamoto is definitely having a major 'dig' at Rossi, no doubt there and to me is essentially saying 'well, you say it is the rider so put up or shut up'.



But, I don't see him as having so much 'egg on his face' as you and others say as he is not (yet at least) saying 'see, we told you it is the bike', nor does he allude to it (what people want to read into or read between the lines is up to them).



To me, he is essentially saying that 'here you are Mr Rossi blaming the bike when previously you said the rider was the critical component'.



Sure, some may see it differently but to me he is not saying the bike is crucial (although he may well beleive that to be the case given his role) but is saying 'prove it'.



But like others, I too see an interesting comment with regards to satellite teams and that did potentially sound an open door, but one must also wonder whether Honda would 'encourage' teams (by threats) to look elsewhere
Click to expand...



Rossi could say he proved it enough, moving to Yamaha and continuing to win just as if he had stayed with Honda.

With subsequent changes in GP technology (most of them imposed by Honda) there has been unanimous consent that the role of the rider was diminishing (which is exactly what Honda wanted).

The irony of all this is that even after all these efforts to make the rider become a commodity, Honda had to hire the fastest rider in activity in order to win -- just as they relied on Rossi once upon a time.

So now their digging at a declining Rossi looks like kicking the opponent when he's on the ground.

Another ironical aspect is that the best proof of Rossi's statement is now... Stoner.
<




I'm waiting for Honda to act in their traditional way and lose Stoner just as they lost Rossi in the past... so that story may repeat itself.
 
Nakamoto is merely pointing out that when Rossi won on the Honda, it was the bike, but when Stoner wins its Stoner.
 
It's a bit ..... they have had to wait 9 years since he left them to be in a position to make that comment.



Maybe if they had kept Nicky or hired someone other than Pedrosa they could have said it a long time ago.



Pete the bass
 

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