The bikes the best you should be winning it's a Honda you know...bah
MOTOGP: Big Problems For Little Pedrosa
185-mph speed wobbles have Dani Pedrosa describing the 2010 Honda RC212V in less than flattering terms.
Colin Young | Posted April 23, 2010
A crucial chassis design flaw is set to cost Honda riders valuable points until after next week's Spanish GP at Jerez, now the second race of the season.
Repsol Honda factory rider Dani Pedrosa has described the 2010 model RC212V as beyond difficult to ride while Honda are rushing to find solutions to the frequently uncomfortable handling of their bike.
HRC vice-president Shuhei Nakamoto expects it will be after the Jerez race before Pedrosa and teammate Andrea Dovizioso are in a position to go for race wins.
Pedrosa is the one in the most trouble and his troubled seventh place, after a daring early dash, in the season opener Qatar GP reflects the current dramas with the RC212V.
Dovizioso finished third in the Qatar after briefly leading with six laps remaining but he had no late-race response to the Yamaha 1-2 of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.
The lightweight Pedrosa is suffering from scary, 300-kph speed wobbles and a lack of balance that he says gives him no chance of winning.
Chassis and swingarm stiffness, weight distribution, and center of gravity are linked to the problem, all complicated by the 110lb Pedrosa's light weight.
Nakamoto says the switch to Öhlins suspension is not the major issue and he also claims a new engine management system for the factory bikes is taming the aggressive power delivery.
Dramatic on-board television pictures from the rear seat unit of Pedrosa's Honda in Qatar were clear evidence that his bike is shaking all over, at times almost out of control.
"It is
[expletive] to ride like that because I can tell you that the bike must at least go in a straight line on the straight," Pedrosa said. "Don't misunderstand me but it is not nice when you ride at 300 kph and the bike is shaking.
"I am not even looking to the guys at the front, I know they are too far and you cannot start to build a house from the top."
Qatar race winner, Valentino Rossi, finished 16.5 seconds ahead of Pedrosa who was a brief early leader in the race after a lightning-quick, launch-control aided start.
Even Frenchman Randy de Puniet, on the satellite LCR Honda (running the smaller diameter 2009 Öhlins forks) was sixth, seven seconds ahead of Pedrosa in Qatar.
It seems that the 2010 chassis is too flexible and even though a frame and swingarm with higher stiffness helped at Qatar, Honda have failed to fully solve the problems.
Dovizioso also had a stiffer chassis and swingarm in Doha but his heavier weight and more rearward riding position assists his set-up options. A modified -- and even stiffer -- frame is now being supplied to Pedrosa.
Nakamoto said the main problem is not because of Honda's switch from Showa to Öhlins suspension. It is a design flaw because Honda tried to build an easier riding bike similar in concept to the Yamaha, with big changes to stiffness, balance, and rear suspension link.
Nakamoto said, "Honda engineers were trying to make a different character, more rider friendly bike for this year but the result so far has not worked properly. For this year's bike the chassis stiffness target was a little low, maybe too soft, too much flex. We know his from Dani's comments and data.
"It has probably cost us at least three races, until after Jerez when we have more updates. And then another revision before midseason. I am positive will find the solution."
Nakamoto also denies that the latest Honda engine -- now matching Ducati for top speed -- is a major issue in chassis balance and performance.
For the moment only Pedrosa and Dovizioso are using the latest factory electronics and traction control system with satellite teams still using an earlier system.
“It is frustrating but the only thing I can do is put my head down, stay positive, and look to the next race,” Pedrosa said.
The next race, following the postponement of the Japanese GP, is his home event at Jerez, the Spanish GP on 2 May.
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