Honda preparing Dakar assault - Page 3

wrk2surf · 07-03-2012, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brodovitch

Quinn would have been great to have had on board... wouldn't hurt US sales either... I wonder if Kendal can be drafted

there were two JCR pilots at Jimmy Lewis's dakar camp a couple months ago..

Flood · 07-03-2012, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doyle

Helder is a good bet but I wonder if HRC didn't try to lure Despres or Coma. My gut tells me that neither one is in a career position to want to start over growing a new team from scratch. I'd expect another year or two with KTM and then a move to 4 wheels.

I think both Marc and Cyril have extended their contracts with big O recently. I can't see them leaving the family that late in their careers.

Carlos M · 07-03-2012, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doyle

Helder is fast, mostly reliable, but most importantly, not accident or injury prone.

Helder was his own team-manager, sponsor retriever, bike developer, engineer... (and I guess almost everything else besides pilot) and he still managed to win stages and fight for podiums. What we all have been wondering is how much better he could be if his sole role would be to train and pilot. Big expectation there.

Can anyone elaborate on the reasons for this Honda investment? Are they retreating from some other sport front? What are the direct benefits for Honda to be involved in Dakar?

I remembered when Dakar was good advertising for big trails but that's not the case anymore (with the small 450's). Will Dakar exposure significantly benefit the selling of regular CRF-X's??

Beez · 07-03-2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlos M

Can anyone elaborate on the reasons for this Honda investment? Are they retreating from some other sport front? What are the direct benefits for Honda to be involved in Dakar?

I remembered when Dakar was good advertising for big trails but that's not the case anymore (with the small 450's). Will Dakar exposure significantly benefit the selling of regular CRF-X's??

I was thinking the same things. What's in it for Honda?

Sadly, I have no answers.

Carlos M · 07-03-2012, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beez

What's in it for Honda?

Hum...I was thinking... maybe they're after even more sales of CG125's and alikes in Brazil (and the rest of south America). They're the ones with $$ nowadays. After all, Dakar is now in South America. Hiring Zanol and Pizzolito may also have something to do with that (besides their undisputable value as pilots)...

trailtrick · 07-03-2012, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlos M

Hum...I was thinking... maybe they're after even more sales of CG125's and alikes in Brazil (and the rest of south America). They're the ones with $$ nowadays. After all, Dakar is now in South America. Hiring Zanol and Pizzolito may also have something to do with that (besides their undisputable value as pilots)...

My take is Nx 300 and 400 sales in south america be bigger if honda wins the dakar down there,also heard o a rummor o 650 adv bike for honda in 2015 , the word in 2005 was they will no do much develoment in dual sport /off road bikes to 2015 ,but maybe the criteria change o this is the beggining o their new develoment to launch in 2015.
either way is greath for the rally and Helder/Zanol will give the ktm factory guys the run for their $$.
Now I think the decision o swap motors not be so easy the make like was in the pass.
Can Honda do the rally with 2 motors be the ?? to ask .
6 more months and we will see .

tehdutchie · 07-03-2012, 01:07 PM

Running a Dakar team costs peanuts compared to any of their other efforts.

Lookimg at the line up of riders and the current economy in europe and the us, id bet this would be to support their south american sales a little

tehdutchie · 07-03-2012, 03:04 PM

Just heard a rumor that 3 bikes have landed at HT in Vorden (nld), if so, ill try and get some pics :)

too old · 07-03-2012, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schattat

Go do some spy work at their workshop, it's unguarded

Sam and Helder, photographs in japan - 2 + 2 =

ArthDuro · 07-03-2012, 07:25 PM

Did someone just say HRC?

Pantah · 07-03-2012, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlos M

Hum...I was thinking... maybe they're after even more sales of CG125's and alikes in Brazil (and the rest of south America). They're the ones with $$ nowadays. After all, Dakar is now in South America. Hiring Zanol and Pizzolito may also have something to do with that (besides their undisputable value as pilots)...

Honda has always been a sporting company. Maybe this remarkable effort is no more than one executive's passion for the Dakar? Stuff like that happens occasionally, and it's not like a budget problem.

Maybe Yamaha joins too! We could see a lot of useful innovation for adventure riders. Products that are strong, yet travel well and are light.

tehdutchie · 07-04-2012, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schattat

Go do some spy work at their workshop, it's unguarded

uuuhh... not any more I can tell you

They installed security very very recently

Brodovitch · 07-04-2012, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tehdutchie

uuuhh... not any more I can tell you

They installed security very very recently

Oh come on anton, you have to try harder, this is important dammit!

ssason · 07-04-2012, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tehdutchie

uuuhh... not any more I can tell you

They installed security very very recently

You ´d better not wear any orange close

or after "Mudgate" and "Rivergate" in 2012, the dakar 2013 might start right now with "spygate" month before the dakar starts

tehdutchie · 07-04-2012, 04:09 AM

Ill wear my Honda cap and see what I can come up with!!

Perhaps MXMUM knows something too?

07-03-2012, 01:07 PM	#37
tehdutchie Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: Amsterdam or on Twitter @antal Oddometer: 1,360	Running a Dakar team costs peanuts compared to any of their other efforts. Lookimg at the line up of riders and the current economy in europe and the us, id bet this would be to support their south american sales a little __________________ => http://www.eatdirt.nl/blog <=

07-03-2012, 03:04 PM	#38
tehdutchie Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: Amsterdam or on Twitter @antal Oddometer: 1,360	Just heard a rumor that 3 bikes have landed at HT in Vorden (nld), if so, ill try and get some pics :) __________________ => http://www.eatdirt.nl/blog <=

07-03-2012, 07:25 PM	#40
ArthDuro quarantined Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Westsideistan Oddometer: 2,748	Did someone just say HRC? __________________ my nx250 project pics my mini ride reports "parts made of unobtanium" + momento mori +

07-04-2012, 04:09 AM	#45
tehdutchie Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: Amsterdam or on Twitter @antal Oddometer: 1,360	Ill wear my Honda cap and see what I can come up with!! Perhaps MXMUM knows something too? __________________ => http://www.eatdirt.nl/blog <=

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