Honda preparing Dakar assault

Discussion in 'Racing' started by STROM-CRF450X-990SMT, Jul 2, 2012.

Page 16 of 61
  1. Brodovitch, Sep 21, 2012
    #301
    Brodovitch

    Brodovitch Team ⌘R

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2010
    Oddometer:
    3,171
    Location:
    Athens, Greece
    One part of me was afraid of that. The other me wants them to succeed... on the Mi1 no less

    Weird / possibly unrelated conspiracy tidbit. A week ago Renato (mr. Ferrari) had a facebook profile. We cyber-friended, what the hell I thought, good for some wacky announcement or whatever.

    Checked my friends list today, his account is de-activated. Read into that what you want.

    OK, tinfoil hat coming off, back to HRC...
    #301
  2. too old, Sep 21, 2012
    #302
    too old

    too old Keen supporter Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2011
    Oddometer:
    6,426
    Location:
    Sandy waste
    Well with Vlladomes on the Pharoans schedule and the rest slated for Morroco we should find out soon.

    With the strength of Honda, HRC have been working on their bike for over 4 months now, with another 3 to go and with a budget of? - But as speculated previously it must be $7 million or more, so not a venture without very deep pockets; Italianism or poor financial planning won't wash!
    #302
  3. doyle, Sep 21, 2012
    #303
    doyle

    doyle RallyRaidReview-ing

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2004
    Oddometer:
    25,262
    Location:
    Off Piste
    I connected with Renato Ferrari too, probably after seeing that you did but I hadn't noticed his account gone. I figured that same thing, perhaps it was a good connection for information. I inquired a few times to the team for a comment on the rumors, but I never heard back any reply.

    Interestingly Chaleco has confirmed that he is buying a factory KTM out of his pocket for 2013 and not running the Mi1. I heard he had built the option to run a KTM into his contract with BF and it looks as though he is exercising that option.

    BF had great results in 2012 and they were an exciting team to watch. Even though some comments were made about them seeming very disorganized in the bivouac, I so want them to prosper and be successful.

    Thomas Oldrati was sacked from the enduro squad after making some references to the teams financial issues and the team admitted a financial "revaluation", but didn't expand much beyond that. I thought it was interesting that they made no push toward the ISDE as a team. A lot of these rumors came out of the Baja de Espana.
    #303
  4. wrk2surf, Sep 21, 2012
    #304
    wrk2surf

    wrk2surf on the gas or brakes

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2007
    Oddometer:
    10,325
    Location:
    THE exact center of California/Bass lake/Yosemite
    word is Renato is in Japan for a couple weeks and doesnt know whats up with his FB ..
    #304
  5. doyle, Sep 22, 2012
    #305
    doyle

    doyle RallyRaidReview-ing

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2004
    Oddometer:
    25,262
    Location:
    Off Piste
    :deal

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    #305
  6. Brodovitch, Sep 22, 2012
    #306
    Brodovitch

    Brodovitch Team ⌘R

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2010
    Oddometer:
    3,171
    Location:
    Athens, Greece
    whoa!

    nice scoop...

    OK let the nit-picking commence :lol3

    I see no rear tanks?
    #306
  7. doyle, Sep 22, 2012
    #307
    doyle

    doyle RallyRaidReview-ing

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2004
    Oddometer:
    25,262
    Location:
    Off Piste
    Typically Honda conservative design?
    #307
  8. Brodovitch, Sep 22, 2012
    #308
    Brodovitch

    Brodovitch Team ⌘R

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2010
    Oddometer:
    3,171
    Location:
    Athens, Greece
    Yup. And what's with the huge black monolith of a navi tower? :lol3

    I take it back on the rear tank, it's just that I could see no filler cap
    #308
  9. troy safari carpente, Sep 22, 2012
    #309
    troy safari carpente

    troy safari carpente f5ree sub-zero agent

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    Oddometer:
    46,863
    Location:
    "Swednavia" - f5ederation of Scandwegia
    Well done "scoop" Doyle... :clap:clap:clap
    #309
  10. LukasM, Sep 22, 2012
    #310
    LukasM

    LukasM Long timer

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2006
    Oddometer:
    5,513
    Location:
    On a RTW ride - currently touring the U.S.
    Definitely a rear/subframe tank or they would have tucked in the exhaust under the rear fender.
    #310
  11. doyle, Sep 22, 2012
    #311
    doyle

    doyle RallyRaidReview-ing

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2004
    Oddometer:
    25,262
    Location:
    Off Piste
    A friend of Joan Barreda has been a great source for me. It's really his scoop, he gave me the heads up early this morning. Looks like some sort of Honda meeting or press conference in Japan. I'm assuming photo security wasn't too tight.
    #311
  12. wilkinsonk, Sep 22, 2012
    #312
    wilkinsonk

    wilkinsonk soup de grimace

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2008
    Oddometer:
    967
    Location:
    Sanford, NC
    I can't imagine that you'd need the low exhaust if you didn't have rear tanks. Looks nice.
    #312
  13. too old, Sep 22, 2012
    #313
    too old

    too old Keen supporter Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2011
    Oddometer:
    6,426
    Location:
    Sandy waste
    http://world.honda.com/news/2012/c120921CEO-Speech/index.html

    It was from a company presentation - full details on this link :clap

    "With the best and brightest gathered from Europe, South America, the U.S. and Japan, together as one “works” team, Honda is getting ready for participation in the Dakar Rally in January 2013, for the first time in 24 years. The prototype machine, which is being developed based on the CRF450X, has been demonstrating high fighting performance on rough road surfaces such as the desert and rocky hills in various tests on engine performance, endurance and long-distance riding. In October 2012, this machine will be put in actual racing in the Morocco Rally to further refine its fighting capability. Honda will strive to win in the Dakar Rally from the first year of returning to the Rally."

    No pics though!:freaky
    #313
  14. too old, Sep 22, 2012
    #314
    too old

    too old Keen supporter Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2011
    Oddometer:
    6,426
    Location:
    Sandy waste
    #314
  15. too old, Sep 22, 2012
    #315
    too old

    too old Keen supporter Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2011
    Oddometer:
    6,426
    Location:
    Sandy waste
    #315
  16. DruncleWill, Sep 22, 2012
    #316
    DruncleWill

    DruncleWill CRASH TESTED

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2010
    Oddometer:
    1,037
    Location:
    Muscoy, yes Muscoy CA
    #316
  17. too old, Sep 23, 2012
    #317
    too old

    too old Keen supporter Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2011
    Oddometer:
    6,426
    Location:
    Sandy waste
    #317
  18. Bluebull2007, Sep 23, 2012
    #318
    Bluebull2007

    Bluebull2007 Adventurer

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2008
    Oddometer:
    5,878
    Location:
    Honduras
    #318
  19. barrier, Sep 23, 2012
    #319
    barrier

    barrier Says who?

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2008
    Oddometer:
    685
    Location:
    North Wales UK
    #319
  20. too old, Sep 23, 2012
    #320
    too old

    too old Keen supporter Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2011
    Oddometer:
    6,426
    Location:
    Sandy waste
    #320
Page 16 of 61