[fl-929]

Apparently not all the Honda's are equal:

Link

I see you guys have been a little busy on the forum. I haven't read as much as I wanted lately because I'm still in the mountains. That doesn't really make sense does it? Anyways let me clarify something before I get started. On my last post when I was at a stop over in Korea I had made a reply to...........(oh 5hit!!!)....Greg, that's right. I had said I was dissapointed about some of the comments he made. Let me clarify...... The dissapointment I was talking about was the truth in his statement. The truth that I will not be recieving the best parts available. That's it!!! All 6 bikes the same was the story I got before I signed the contract. Lesson learned........don't believe everything you're told!!!! I'd love to go into detail about what I will and will not recieve, but I'm sure it will come around and bite me in the ass somewhere down the road. So let's just leave it at that for now. (If during the course of the year I was to get really pissed about this topic I'll fill you in, don't worry.

[deez]

Guess we should have all expected it. He won the WSBK title by one of the biggest comebacks in racing history, and won the Suzuka 8HR, then promptly got 'let go'. You can understand why Rossi left, even with the best bike. Colin is my favorite rider, but I hope Rossi or one of the Ducatis **** Honda proper.

[nomad]

Sounds like he's setting himself up for a good and proper excuse... "I didn't do well this year because the machinery let me down." Hmmm.... familiar?

Go Troy.

[deez]

Nomad quit trying to start dude

Here check this out....

http://misterb.speedyard.net/images/...20Favs%203.jpg

[nomad]

*bah* I'm not trying to start stuff. I am tired of hearing excuses - let alone before the year starts. Not all bikes were created equal. The way I look at it is that if he were at the top of the A list, he'd be given the 2004 spec instead of the old cast-offs. Know what I mean? I'm just saying, he's got a better bike than a privateer because he's a helluva better rider. I guess they feel that Giberneau is a better rider so he gets the better duds... it's just the pecking order.

Giberneau had cast-offs last year, right? Now he gets the better bike... moved up. Biatchi, he moved up to Honda. And gets a good ride 'cause he is the better rider. If Edwards hits the top 3 this year, he'll surely get the nod for 2005 and he'll be the man on the 2005 spec... until then, shuddap and ride that bike to its limits.

*shrug* every year we hear riders take credit if they win and blame the bike if they lose. It just sounds like Edwards is setting himself up to make that latter explanation more believable later on... Not everyone can have the best bike so kick-ass and work harder with what you got.

[Baketech]

I don't remember any of the other Honda riders complaining last year, and they all had lesser machines than VR.....



The way we percieve these events gets downright comical at times....

When Max says these things...we label him a "whiner"...

When CE says these things...we say "he's a straight shooter, telling it like it is"...

[Baketech]

Originally Posted by booth23

Guess we should have all expected it. He won the WSBK title by one of the biggest comebacks in racing history, and won the Suzuka 8HR, then promptly got 'let go'. You can understand why Rossi left, even with the best bike. Colin is my favorite rider, but I hope Rossi or one of the Ducatis **** Honda proper.

Soap Opera Drama Queen..... get over it...

[ccwilli3]

I'd think that if Colin started whipping biaggi and the other guys' asses, they'd start sending the parts his way...

[Baketech]

Product development can be a wacky process.....it remains to be seen whether the 2004 bike is any better than the "sorted" 2003 machines....so crying about it this early in the game seems counter-productive for everyone...

[QuikMike]

sounds like he's starting to get a case of the "whinies" to me also...I understand the guy's desire for everyone to be on equal machinery, but politics are politics, so not everyone is going to have the "latest and the greatest" outta the box....BakeTech hit it square..ride what you got and shut the hell up!!! what better way to show that you deserve the '04 parts than to come out and whup ass on a year old bike...

funny how if those were Max's words, he'd be a whiner....but since CE II said it, he's getting "screwed"... just one of those things that make you go "hmmmmm"....

[Proto]

Booth, can you really get this weeks MCN over in the nothwest rainforest two days after its UK publication? I'm impressed.

[Baketech]

Miscellaneous Honda quotes:

Trevor Morris, Hayden Crew Chief:
"Very pleased with the first outing of 2004 really. Nicky is going well and it's great to see he went faster today on normal tires than he did on qualifying tires at the GP last October. We did a simulated long run and he got into a good fast rhythm so we're all very encouraged. We got a lot of valuable data on various 2004 parts which will be very useful in building the 2004 bikes back at the workshop which we'll be riding next month."

Shoji Tachikawa, Repsol Honda Team Manager:
"The times are very similar to those of 2003 and to get to this pace straight after the winter break is very good. The team got back on pace fast and we gathered a lot of data that will be very important; especially when we come back with the 2004 bike."

Carlo Fiorani, Repsol Honda Team Sporting Manager:
"It's good to be back in action with half the team going so well. We now look forward very much to the tests here on February 11-13 when we will be a full team again, welcoming Alex Barros and his crew to the Repsol Honda Team on the 2004 bike."

[nedro]

My comment about Collin four days ago

[CBRVFR]

I can understand CE's anger at being deceived, IF he was, and IF he wrote that, but I see no benefit in putting that opinion out into a public forum. Embarassing the Honda racing bosses ( who are almost certainly duplicitous assholes) doesn't lead to a better situation for a racer. Ask Jacques Villeneuve.

Racing for Honda brings out the whininess in some guys, and if they're prone to the habit, it gets pretty hard to take. Can you imagine Mladin in the same situation?

Having said that, Colin's bike will be one of the best sorted, most capable and best prepared on the grid. In the chaos of a race, he has the tools he needs to get on the podium, I think. The only rider out there with superhuman abilities is on a bike that hasn't been able to get the power down without shredding tires.

So shaddup, put your head down and ride, Colon. I mean Colin.

[BDA116]

I like Colin a lot, and would like to see him do very well this year. That said, how can he even say something like this? (if he actually did). NONE of the Honda riders have been on 2004 equipment yet, save the test riders.
I believe that Honda themselves stated that all the 2004 RC211Vs would begin life as equals, and would go from there. I don't think they ever stated that all the bikes would be equal all year long. Was it Sete that put it best when he said that of course the Repsol team would get extra factory parts first, and then the other teams would get them - or something to that regard?
Rossi was the only Honda rider last year to get top stuff. Even his teammate on the official HRC team didn't get the good stuff right away. This year, it is changing in that all riders will start the GP season on equal machinery. New factory parts will make it to the factory team first, and then trickle to the others.
This doesn't stop the other teams from finding their own go-fast mods, though.
I find it very unlikely that there will be much difference between Sete's and Colin's bikes. Will there be a difference with Nicky and Alex's bikes? Most certainly, after a few races.

Either way, IF he actually said this it is unfortunate. He should just ride the bike and push the factory team as best he can. That's how you impress the Honda bosses. Gibernau found this out without any whining whatsoever.

[deez]

Originally Posted by Baketech

Soap Opera Drama Queen..... get over it...

You stupid phuck. It's not about whining, not at all. CE isn't pulling a phucking Biaatchi. He was told one thing before his contract, and that was a lie. I'm sure he is happy to be on a better bike. But that is like a company saying this and that before you come to work for them, and then they change it once you are there. I wouldn't like it either.

Edit

[Baketech]

[deez]

And that goes for Gibernau too. He should have first dibs. Honda is something else. Before the season starts, they say all 6 riders will have = machinery, then they change it around to suit them. I'll be rooting for Rossi this year on BDA's bike

[Baketech]

You just don't "get it" and probably never will....

[deez]

Yeah I do, I just don't like it. Gibernau finishes 2nd in the championship behind Val, and I think he finished like 30 points up on Biaatchi, but doesn't get their best machinery, they don't get it.

[phozed]

you guys are harsh - Honda told CE (and everyone else but not like we matter) that all the riders would be on the same equipment. I can understand why Colin feels slighted - he was lied to. But you know what - I bet CE still gives them a run for their money and if it's close he'll make up the difference.

Fwiw I called BS on the 'same bike' thing all along...

[ccwilli3]

Originally Posted by phozed

you guys are harsh - Honda told CE (and everyone else but not like we matter) that all the riders would be on the same equipment. I can understand why Colin feels slighted - he was lied to. But you know what - I bet CE still gives them a run for their money and if it's close he'll make up the difference.

Fwiw I called BS on the 'same bike' thing all along...

I'm wit you! I think colin will make it up and stand up to be counted!

[Baketech]

Originally Posted by ccwilli3

I'm wit you! I think colin will make it up and stand up to be counted!

I think a lot of us agree with that...