Honda preparing Dakar assault

[doyle]

Originally Posted by too old

No Chris - only 4 men after Sam was injured, of course we don't know about Philipe as yet, but it can't be too positive for this time?

I gotcha, I misread your first statement thinking you meant 4 riders before any of this happened. Seems to me that if Zanol is out and let's face it, an induced coma to riding competitively in a month would be a pretty miraculous recovery, that HRC running only 3 riders would be a risky maneuver and sort of putting all their eggs in the Helder Rodrigues basket. Certainly JCR and Pizzolito are support riders, so a Helder hiccup could be devastating to their effort.

[Bluebull2007]

Too Old, Im with you on that one Juan Carlos Salvatierra is the guy I would have chosen, him and Grabham.

[neduro]

Excellent commentary, all. Most important, best wishes for Felipe and Sam!

Having ridden the routes they were on in California, and those in Dakar (and Morocco) for reference, I can say that our US riding is generally considerably more risky and technical. As well, the roadbooks here don't have dangers marked- they are as good or better in terms of directional layout, but they make no attempt to call out dangers.

That's a big difference for the frontrunners in Dakar- what I witnessed there was commitment beyond visibility, and total trust in the danger markings of the roadbook.

I'm a bit stunned they would be doing testing in December- no time for recovery, and not much for fixing anything substantive on the bike.

[doyle]

Originally Posted by neduro

Excellent commentary, all. Most important, best wishes for Felipe and Sam!

Having ridden the routes they were on in California, and those in Dakar (and Morocco) for reference, I can say that our US riding is generally considerably more risky and technical. As well, the roadbooks here don't have dangers marked- they are as good or better in terms of directional layout, but they make no attempt to call out dangers.

That's a big difference for the frontrunners in Dakar- what I witnessed there was commitment beyond visibility, and total trust in the danger markings of the roadbook.

I'm a bit stunned they would be doing testing in December- no time for recovery, and not much for fixing anything substantive on the bike.

Everybody's doing it... Verhoeven in Morocco, Farres in Morocco, Speedbrain is testing now in Spain, etc... Seems to me the testing should be nothing more than warm up and becoming comfortable with the bike but in Sam's case, a loose nav getting tangled up in the wheel can happen no matter how leisurely the pace. I puts Honda in a real bind.

[wilkinsonk]

Originally Posted by doyle

in Sam's case, a loose nav getting tangled up in the wheel can happen no matter how leisurely the pace. I puts Honda in a real bind.

Are you speculating or confirming the earlier "little birdie"?

Regardless, speedy recovery to both riders involved.

[charapa]

Everyone has been speculating race strategy in a cold and technical form as we seem to do in USA, CA, AU, and much of Europe. But there is so much more here in the bid for the SA market! And it is a market that responds as much or more to sentiment!

For example... in Peru, when their futbol team loses, the fans go crazy, mob the streets and break windows. So they bring out the water canons! When their futbol team WINS .... the fans go crazy, mob the streets and break windows. So they bring out the water canons!

Point is: Sales in South America are as much about feeling as they are about technical superiority.

Pizolito is great, but the rest of SA considers the Argentinians a bit "especial". Argentinians will circle the wagons around their guy... but the rest of SA ... not so much. For SA sales they NEED another S.American (non-Argentinian) hero!

YES! I know they need to make a good showing to sell, but drama, heart, and "he's one of us" is just as important here south of the border!

[HogWild]

Originally Posted by neduro

Having ridden the routes they were on in California, and those in Dakar (and Morocco) for reference, I can say that our US riding is generally considerably more risky and technical. As well, the roadbooks here don't have dangers marked- they are as good or better in terms of directional layout, but they make no attempt to call out dangers. That's a big difference for the frontrunners in Dakar- what I witnessed there was commitment beyond visibility, and total trust in the danger markings of the roadbook.

As best as I can tell, they were testing in the Stoddard Wells area, south of Barstow. There are no roadbook routes in that area as far as I know, though both Quinn and Johnny have asked me to make something there. And I'm not aware of Johnny using my roadbooks during this recent testing. So, my guess is they were not following any roadbook. Also, that area is torn up pretty well, with tons of whoops in some places. It's probably a good place to stress the bikes, which is what I thought they were doing.

[doyle]

Originally Posted by HogWild

As best as I can tell, they were testing in the Stoddard Wells area, south of Barstow. There are no roadbook routes in that area as far as I know, though both Quinn and Johnny have asked me to make something there. And I'm not aware of Johnny using my roadbooks during this recent testing. So, my guess is they were not following any roadbook. Also, that area is torn up pretty well, with tons of whoops in some places. It's probably a good place to stress the bikes, which is what I thought they were doing.

What I find astounding is the information on the van in the back of this photo. It looks to me that HRC (assuming via EFI mapping) can dial up and down the engine power. Some interesting details as well. Look at the notation of the slimmer fairing, perhaps as a result of a different navi structure (pure speculation on my part), all interesting stuff.

39kw, 41kw, 43kw, 45kw, interesting to see how they are testing the different settings, I suppose for durability assuming HRC has the same quick turnaround they would in MX or GP.

I can't tell what the sheets are on the right of the van, but perhaps a short riding loop where a full roadbook is not necessary.


Click for full size photo to see what I'm talking about...

[Baja Dad]

Originally Posted by HogWild

As best as I can tell, they were testing in the Stoddard Wells area, south of Barstow. There are no roadbook routes in that area as far as I know, though both Quinn and Johnny have asked me to make something there. And I'm not aware of Johnny using my roadbooks during this recent testing. So, my guess is they were not following any roadbook. Also, that area is torn up pretty well, with tons of whoops in some places. It's probably a good place to stress the bikes, which is what I thought they were doing.

I ride there all the time!!!
I was just there last weekend!
Get well soon boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Flood]

Originally Posted by doyle

Click for full size photo to see what I'm talking about...

Awesome.
They're still experimenting with different rear tanks, fairing and brake setups at this stage. That's more than a little shakedown week in sunny Cali. It shouldn't be a surprise, but taking on the multi-title winning KTM RR isn't an easy task.

One also has to put this into perspective compared to other endeavours like Bordone-Ferrari.

[doyle]

Originally Posted by Flood

Awesome.
They're still experimenting with different rear tanks, fairing and brake setups at this stage. That's more than a little shakedown week in sunny Cali. It shouldn't be a surprise, but taking on the multi-title winning KTM RR isn't an easy task.

One also has to put this into perspective compared to other endeavours like Bordone-Ferrari.

Yes, but certainly HRC is no Bordone-Ferrari. I'm surprised the usually hush-hush Honda media handlers would allow such strategic resources to be shown, even in the background. It's an amazing glimpse into the "process" of it all. That aside, the rudimentary aspect does have me a little baffled. Hand written charts, hand written "highlights" as to what has changed. That's not quite the "Honda" that I recognize.

[Bluebull2007]

Originally Posted by doyle

Yes, but certainly HRC is no Bordone-Ferrari. I'm surprised the usually hush-hush Honda media handlers would allow such strategic resources to be shown, even in the background. It's an amazing glimpse into the "process" of it all. That aside, the rudimentary aspect does have me a little baffled. Hand written charts, hand written "highlights" as to what has changed. That's not quite the "Honda" that I recognize.

Brilliant observation there on the photos Doyle!

[Flood]

re: handwritten notes. I'd say this is just working out in the field.

What am I looking at here? I'm guessing fuel system, 5 fuel tanks? Front top, left, right + rear left, right?



Yes I know, I need to get a life. Sue me.

[HogWild]

Originally Posted by doyle

I can't tell what the sheets are on the right of the van, but perhaps a short riding loop where a full roadbook is not necessary.

The bike appears to have no roadbook holder, so no roadbook navigating!

The three upper-right papers on the van look like Google Earth imagery of typical desert terrain. The lower-right is a map of what may be their practice course. I took that fuzzy image and re-did it below in Google Earth following existing roads in the Stoddard area. Looks pretty close!

[doyle]

Originally Posted by HogWild

I took that fuzzy image and re-did it below in Google Earth following existing roads in the Stoddar area. Looks the same!

The first step is admitting you have a problem...