What Does Honda Do Now??

twotwosix wrote:

http://motocross.transworld.net/news/james-stewart-update-january-24th-…

reynardfan1 wrote:

Serious question. Is it better for Honda to park the 94 and run a semi all year for 14? Or is it financially/marketing better to grab...

Serious question. Is it better for Honda to park the 94 and run a semi all year for 14?

Or is it financially/marketing better to grab a fill on rider...?

If it's worth the risk... do you grab 7 off the couch or do you play it smart/safe and pull up someone from a B team?

Anyone know what the industry insiders use to weigh this decision?

ML512 wrote:

Multiple ways to look at it. One results currently and the expected results once they move to your bike. Familiarity with your bike or team. Financial...

Multiple ways to look at it.

One results currently and the expected results once they move to your bike.

Familiarity with your bike or team.

Financial investment into said rider over the needed period of time.

Required time to fill-in.

Interested rider's personal contracts.

Rider's past history working with teams and reputation.

Can they adjust quickly...

Quite a few ways to look at it...

Here's my view for HRC's situation: A fill-in rider ideally should be in mains and hopefully top ten consistently and not be spending time on the ground (Not JS...). They've just had their marque rider succumb to a major crash on a new bike, they don't need criticism on the bike with another person crashing it.

Secondly, it sounds like this might be a full-year deal because of the level of Ken's injury.

Rider's available and reasons they may or may not:

Justin Brayton:
Positive - Outside of the HRC team, Brayton is the only top guy with time on a 2017 model bike, only one they're supporting with that bike, and he's rode for Honda before.
Negative - His results as of late haven't been the best, he's already got a ride for the full year riding a Honda, so the bike is out there no matter what, and he wasn't planning on racing outdoors anymore.

Dean Wilson:
Positive - He's out there racing and has gotten one spot better each weekend, finishing 11th this last weekend. He has no contracts holding him off riding the bike and is currently on another brand, so you wouldn't be moving one Honda rider off a bike to another. If Dean doesn't have a ride soon, he won't be racing the rest of Supercross anyhow, he's hungry. Dean has a good reputation from past teams.
Negative - He hasn't ridden a Honda as a professional or worked with the team, hasn't cracked the top ten yet in 2017, has had some injury-filled past seasons. Is aiming for a Yamaha ride come outdoors.

Freddy Noren:
Positive - He's worked with the HRC team for multiple years now as a fill-in. Personal sponsor contracts don't conflict and I believe he's rode the 17 before. Outdoors, he can put in solid work week-in and week-out.
Negative - Freddy has a contract with a team for 250 East coast, he's only been riding a 250 as of late, he's never really been a Supercross guy or raced the 450 in Supercross. He's not top ten material indoors at his current state.

Malcolm Stewart:
Positive - Raw speed and talent, possible higher ceiling than the others on this list for 2017. Personal sponsors don't conflict. Malcolm's personal reputation is good. Won a 250 title for Honda.
Negative - It sounds like he's committed to his new personal team for all of Supercross and more than likely can't leave after only one race with the investments made. Malcolm has never raced this much in a season, (450 indoors and outdoors). His first race back he crashed and faded back in the standings. Family reputation isn't as good as his personal one.

Andrew Short:
Positive - Actually works for Honda and has spent more time than anyone other than Ken and Cole on the new bike in full works trim. Andrew can still go fast in Supercross. No sponsor conflicts or contract issues.
Negatives - He hasn't been training to race, has "retired", and outdoors might be questionable in his wants for the year.

If the deal is really going to be a full-year fill-in, I would like to see it go to Dean Wilson. He doesn't have the ride right now and wouldn't race otherwise after round five.

I know many will point towards Brayton, but that adds a Honda to their truck and eliminates another from the field (I don't think MCR can place anyone on his 17s). I'm actually seeing this as less likely the more I think about it.

Andrew Short...Andrew is getting paid to do cool shit and already has a lot on his plate this year.

For Malcolm to switch, I'd say his brother would have to take his ride over...

As for James getting the HRC ride, just no... Possible big upside, but way too much risk involved. Fill-in rides aren't about taking risks for a huge upswing, they're about placing the bike in there consistently every weekend to please everyone involved.

MX-LIFE. wrote:

So James is riding Red according to Transworld? Guess your insiders source was off.

ML512 wrote:

Transworld is reporting that James bought some Hondas with little to no help.

I said I don't see him filling in at HRC.

Got a problem?