Team Honda = Team Mickey Mouse?

DrSweden
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Stockholm, SE
Edited Date/Time 1/26/2012 11:15pm
What happened? Roger, and Mitch and even Geico seems to be on top on things, but Honda with their huge background and backup(?) feels as solid as a shrimp on asphalt. Do they honestly think their riders will make any impact at, or inspire riders to buy the new CRF450? Why don't they try to find young talents with a future like the rest seems to do?

How come the best brand become almost became joke on circuit?

Or is it that Roger D and Mitch are so damn good the others looks like fools?

My CRF doesn't looks or feel so cool any longer as a consequence. Damn Kehoe...
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bullpen58
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2/7/2009 10:24am
It probably has to do with finances. I'd bet my life that way more CRFs are sold per year than any other brand so the company is doing great from their perspective. Take one look at any local mx track and it's packed with Hondas. They're great bikes (even though I'm a lifelong Yamahauler, I can admit that).

Honda is not winning races or championships (in the 450s) right now because they didn't out bid the other OEMs and hire JS or CR. It's probably as simple as that.

There's no need to pay JS $9,000,000,000,000,000 per lap that he rides when you already sell more bikes than everyone else. Instead, why not pay DM $90,000 per year to show up and finish most races somewhere inside the top 40 and laugh all the way to the bank?

I really think that's what is happening. I wish it were more about the "pride" of winning or the team's "competitiveness", but I doubt that's a factor. Of course they WANT to win, but lately, the only way to do so is to hire JS or CR (or somehow talk RC into coming out of retirement, hehe).

RC did a ton to change the "losing culture" over at Suzuki. They hadn't won squat in a long time and now they're one of the top teams for sure. I still wouldn't buy one of their bikes though. LOL
ninety3
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2/7/2009 10:32am Edited Date/Time 2/7/2009 10:37am
Catch 22
Winning with a James Stewart, RC, CR only proves spending the most $$ wins races/championships.
Support riders trying to get to that level and your seen as weak and incapable of winning.
Anyone remember the boos RC got when he switched to Honda ? Unsure
G Force
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Winnipeg, CA
2/7/2009 10:34am
I personally don't know anyone who buys a bike based on race team results. As far as Team Honda being a "joke", you are quite clueless.

If I were buying a new bike today, it would likely be a Honda.

What are all the privateers riding??

DrSweden
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2/7/2009 10:35am
You have a point for sure. But the present team is as vivid Dick Cheney. I would hire ten young guns with a future instead of this dead fish top 10 club...

Seing Pourcel smoke the field made me think of Mitch as a God, or him hiring Mr "I mean" Rattray is so damn exciting. Meanwhile Honda stretch their muscles (insert drum whirl) and hires: Ashely Fiolek... Yeah, thats really sweat, and political correct. But come on...

The Shop

mxpimp
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Seattle, WA, USA
2/7/2009 10:39am
Andrew short is a solid rider but the rest of the team is a disappointment. Especially Townely I had high for hopes for him.
CR500Rider
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San Antonio, TX, USA
2/7/2009 10:39am
DrSweden wrote:
You have a point for sure. But the present team is as vivid Dick Cheney. I would hire ten young guns with a future instead of...
You have a point for sure. But the present team is as vivid Dick Cheney. I would hire ten young guns with a future instead of this dead fish top 10 club...

Seing Pourcel smoke the field made me think of Mitch as a God, or him hiring Mr "I mean" Rattray is so damn exciting. Meanwhile Honda stretch their muscles (insert drum whirl) and hires: Ashely Fiolek... Yeah, thats really sweat, and political correct. But come on...
Ashley is the best female at what she does. One smart move for Honda.
ninety3
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2/7/2009 10:40am
At some point Women have to be taken seriously in our sport, Honda are pushing that edge.
I understand many males take issue with that. Time will tell if it was the right move.
I'm a fan of women in MX, wish there were as many into it when I was a youngster.
bullpen58
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2/7/2009 10:41am
That's pretty disrespectful to Ashley. She's a bad mo-fo and deserves to get great support. You may think it's "sweet" and all "PC", but I wouldn't be surprised to see her racing the guys someday. I hope I get to see that.

I think Honda is doing exactly what you are complaining about them "not" doing. They've got AF and I'm pretty sure they've got Justin Barcia lined up for the future too.

I'm not sure why you're so bent out of shape. Is it something else you're mad about and just taking it out on poor Team Honda?
Cygnus
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2/7/2009 10:43am
Go Bret Metcalf?
Oldmotoguy
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2/7/2009 10:57am
you meet the nicest people on a Honda
Foo723
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Pensacola, FL, USA
2/7/2009 11:07am
sometimes i dont understand honda.

i wouldnt have let mcgrath go at any cost. so what he was riding another brand jet ski, i dont make a jet ski

i wouldnt have let rc go at any cost.

like i said, its just me, i do wonder about it
ninety3
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2/7/2009 11:09am
Oldmotoguy wrote:
you meet the nicest people on a Honda
2/7/2009 11:12am
bullpen58 wrote:
It probably has to do with finances. I'd bet my life that way more CRFs are sold per year than any other brand so the company...
It probably has to do with finances. I'd bet my life that way more CRFs are sold per year than any other brand so the company is doing great from their perspective. Take one look at any local mx track and it's packed with Hondas. They're great bikes (even though I'm a lifelong Yamahauler, I can admit that).

Honda is not winning races or championships (in the 450s) right now because they didn't out bid the other OEMs and hire JS or CR. It's probably as simple as that.

There's no need to pay JS $9,000,000,000,000,000 per lap that he rides when you already sell more bikes than everyone else. Instead, why not pay DM $90,000 per year to show up and finish most races somewhere inside the top 40 and laugh all the way to the bank?

I really think that's what is happening. I wish it were more about the "pride" of winning or the team's "competitiveness", but I doubt that's a factor. Of course they WANT to win, but lately, the only way to do so is to hire JS or CR (or somehow talk RC into coming out of retirement, hehe).

RC did a ton to change the "losing culture" over at Suzuki. They hadn't won squat in a long time and now they're one of the top teams for sure. I still wouldn't buy one of their bikes though. LOL
Milsaps makes $90k a year?

bullpen58
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2/7/2009 11:19am
Yes, exactly $90,000. And JS makes $9,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 per lap. I know their salaries precisely because I'm from the internet.

Ozzy
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Santa Clarita, CA, USA
2/7/2009 11:21am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 10:22pm
1st, though I've been critical too, as far as

several guys out there not seeming to "bring it",

you can't blame it all in RED's case on Kehoe.

Not fair.

He's not the end all 1st or last word there.

He's a gear in their tranny, but not 1st gear!

As with most factory efforts there's a chain of command!

In RED's case, ALL were already signed, so whether it's

the bike, rider, or both, it is what it is, & for sure there's no

magic there. Regardless of the riders, it's always the
same deal,
HARD WORK.
Alawys HARD WORK!

Mitch & RD have had as many hits as misses,

yet obviously the hits are what's remembered most.

Again, Kehoe's in the process for sure, yet not to blame!

Dave O.Wink

RMZ819
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USA
2/7/2009 11:46am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 10:22pm
DrSweden wrote:
You have a point for sure. But the present team is as vivid Dick Cheney. I would hire ten young guns with a future instead of...
You have a point for sure. But the present team is as vivid Dick Cheney. I would hire ten young guns with a future instead of this dead fish top 10 club...

Seing Pourcel smoke the field made me think of Mitch as a God, or him hiring Mr "I mean" Rattray is so damn exciting. Meanwhile Honda stretch their muscles (insert drum whirl) and hires: Ashely Fiolek... Yeah, thats really sweat, and political correct. But come on...
CR500Rider wrote:
Ashley is the best female at what she does. One smart move for Honda.
I can't imagine Honda's deal with Ashley is no more than a few bikes travel and a half ass wrench at the WMA races. Honda is not going to sink a ass load of money into Ashley.

I would also argue with the best female at what she does quote also. She did OK on the other side of the pond but never came close to dominating. Same thing over here. Patterson blew it as the first race last yr and was behind the 8 ball all yr. JP will kill the field in the WMA this yr.
SPYGUY
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2/7/2009 11:47am
Ozzy wrote:
1st, though I've been critical too, as far as several guys out there not seeming to "bring it", you can't blame it all in RED's case...
1st, though I've been critical too, as far as

several guys out there not seeming to "bring it",

you can't blame it all in RED's case on Kehoe.

Not fair.

He's not the end all 1st or last word there.

He's a gear in their tranny, but not 1st gear!

As with most factory efforts there's a chain of command!

In RED's case, ALL were already signed, so whether it's

the bike, rider, or both, it is what it is, & for sure there's no

magic there. Regardless of the riders, it's always the
same deal,
HARD WORK.
Alawys HARD WORK!

Mitch & RD have had as many hits as misses,

yet obviously the hits are what's remembered most.

Again, Kehoe's in the process for sure, yet not to blame!

Dave O.Wink

Ozzy, a question if I may
ask one.
When you have an important
document to send out in the
business world. Do you type it
like this?
WONDERING!
Maybe not even an important
document but even perhaps
an e-mail to an associate.
How is it formatted?
Do you stick with this or
do you try to type something
that isn't a bitch to read?
AGAIN,
just wondering.

SPYGUY Wink
ninety3
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2/7/2009 11:54am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 10:22pm
RMZ819 wrote:
I can't imagine Honda's deal with Ashley is no more than a few bikes travel and a half ass wrench at the WMA races. Honda is...
I can't imagine Honda's deal with Ashley is no more than a few bikes travel and a half ass wrench at the WMA races. Honda is not going to sink a ass load of money into Ashley.

I would also argue with the best female at what she does quote also. She did OK on the other side of the pond but never came close to dominating. Same thing over here. Patterson blew it as the first race last yr and was behind the 8 ball all yr. JP will kill the field in the WMA this yr.
As I understand it, Ashley will be on a Factory Bike, in the RedBull Team Honda pits, same as 9, 29, 18 &101 if BT races.
bullpen58
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2/7/2009 11:54am
That's an interesting
question.
SPYGUY.
I was wondering
the same thing myself.
I wonder if he only uses the
left half of post-it notes too?
WEIRD.
Good question,
nonetheless.

bullpen58 Wink
Faceaz
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2/7/2009 11:59am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 10:22pm
Foo723 wrote:
sometimes i dont understand honda. i wouldnt have let mcgrath go at any cost. so what he was riding another brand jet ski, i dont make...
sometimes i dont understand honda.

i wouldnt have let mcgrath go at any cost. so what he was riding another brand jet ski, i dont make a jet ski

i wouldnt have let rc go at any cost.

like i said, its just me, i do wonder about it
I know it sounds stupid to say this know, but @ the time I thought they made a good choice with RC.He had been around a while & had a pretty tre up knee. I never would have guessed he'd come back like he did.
Ozzy
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2/7/2009 12:09pm Edited Date/Time 2/7/2009 12:28pm
?
Ozzy
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2/7/2009 12:28pm
After much thought,
"give me a break!"
Dave O.
"inquiring minds want to know."....Woohoo

jmar
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2/7/2009 12:57pm
The purpose of Honda’s race team isn’t just about selling it’s line of dirtbikes. It’s about name branding in general. Some of you seem to think the dirt bike market is much bigger than it really is.
andymoto
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Carmichael, CA, USA
2/7/2009 1:14pm
jmar wrote:
The purpose of Honda’s race team isn’t just about selling it’s line of dirtbikes. It’s about name branding in general. Some of you seem to think...
The purpose of Honda’s race team isn’t just about selling it’s line of dirtbikes. It’s about name branding in general. Some of you seem to think the dirt bike market is much bigger than it really is.
Very true......dirtbikes no where near what it was not that many yrs ago.

Sorry Doc Swede; Larry Brooks last week, now Kehoe this week...who'll be next week?
dunn2500
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2/7/2009 1:43pm
most have 2 riders per class.................honda has 4 in the sx class..
mcphilly
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2/7/2009 2:14pm
I would rather have one or two riders who have a chance at a title rather than four riders who stand a very very slim chance . Wink
ninety3
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2/7/2009 2:25pm
mcphilly wrote:
I would rather have one or two riders who have a chance at a title rather than four riders who stand a very very slim chance...
I would rather have one or two riders who have a chance at a title rather than four riders who stand a very very slim chance . Wink
Your math doe$n't work.
mcphilly
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2/7/2009 2:27pm
mcphilly wrote:
I would rather have one or two riders who have a chance at a title rather than four riders who stand a very very slim chance...
I would rather have one or two riders who have a chance at a title rather than four riders who stand a very very slim chance . Wink
ninety3 wrote:
Your math doe$n't work.
Makes perfect sense to me . What are you having trouble understanding ?
catatonic
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2/7/2009 2:31pm
RMZ819 wrote:
I can't imagine Honda's deal with Ashley is no more than a few bikes travel and a half ass wrench at the WMA races. Honda is...
I can't imagine Honda's deal with Ashley is no more than a few bikes travel and a half ass wrench at the WMA races. Honda is not going to sink a ass load of money into Ashley.

I would also argue with the best female at what she does quote also. She did OK on the other side of the pond but never came close to dominating. Same thing over here. Patterson blew it as the first race last yr and was behind the 8 ball all yr. JP will kill the field in the WMA this yr.
ninety3 wrote:
As I understand it, Ashley will be on a Factory Bike, in the RedBull Team Honda pits, same as 9, 29, 18 &101 if BT races.
I think #9 and #18 have a legitimate shot at a WMA title.
ninety3
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2/7/2009 2:40pm
mcphilly wrote:
Makes perfect sense to me . What are you having trouble understanding ?
The $$$ it takes to have that "1 or 2" are a bit different, don't you think ?

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