Hayden to WSBK on Honda

I think hayden will do very well in wsbk !

 

So just a couple times on the bike and Hayden is faster than Rea could ever muster at Jerez on the Honda? But I thought he was washed up and would totally suck because Rea couldn't win on the Honda.

 

I don't think anyone ever called Hayden washed up, just that it was time for him to move on from MotoGP as there was little left to accomplish there. There's certainly hard facts that come into play when you are racing the most technologically advanced 2-wheeled machines on the planet. Two of those were...

1 - Hayden was no longer being offered top tier rides anymore
2 - the rides he was being offered were on machinery that would only have him circulating midpack.

It's not the movies where you can will yourself to go faster than the 4 Aliens on the 4 fastest bikes on the grid.

 

Like Kaz said, I don't remember people saying he was washed up. Everyone is/was just tired of seeing him finishing 15th-20th while working his ass off on subpar equipment. We want to see him running up front, and he was never going to do that again in MotoGP.

Bike riding/racing skills don't deteriorate with age like skills in ball sports. You don't need a 40" vertical or need to run a 4.4sec 40yrd dash to win at motorcycle racing. As long as someone is healthy and in good shape, Championships can be won, even on the World level, well into the 40's. That is why I find it so damn silly when people talking about how a 32-36yr old rider needs to "step aside" so someone "younger and hungrier" can have the seat. WTF does that even mean? Age has nothing to do with "hunger" or determination or will to win. And everyone looks the same once the suit and helmets go on. A podium finish by a 20 year old doesn't look any different or better than a podium finish by a 40 year old.

 

To add to that the honda superbike that hayden is riding is a far better bike than when rea had it !

 

Not even Morris, the rebel speaker of truths everyone else is afraid of?

 

I'm not trying to be contrary simply for the sake of arguing, but what has actually changed on the Honda? Have they acknowledged anything specific, or just spoken in code about "upgrades" to the engine, electronics, etc.?

You may be completely correct - I just have not read anything about the Honda being updated in any significant way. Were they on different compound tires during the latest test???

 

Yea, I haven't seen any Evidence that the Honda is much better than it was when Rea rode it, especially when compared against the current state of the other bikes, which is how you have to compare it if you're considering Nicky's chances. Rea wasn't typically more than 0.8 seconds off the pace when he was on the Honda. Hopefully the forthcoming engine upgrade helps close the gap.

 

I think if Nicky would have made this switch last year, his overall chances would have been much better. Now with the Duck getting sorted out and the new Kwak, he's got a whole lot more working against him.

 

Don't forget about the Yamaha's.

 

Good point. He has quite the battle ahead of him.

 

The paint job is totally different.

 

Let's make that singular. I think one of them will spend more time on its side than on its wheels this year.

 

Maybe Honda will create a hybrid between the too aggressive RCV and too lazy CBR.

 

The bike will be competitive if HRC and Dorna want the bike to be competitive....

 

This is what I'm hoping for. That HRC cares enough about wsbk.

 

YOU and WE are so WRONG buddy. I respect the be jesus out of him, some of you just miss understand what it is I am saying

 

Apparently New Zealanders have a different way of showing respect than Americans are used to...

 

O dear, sorry for the mistake