MotoGP: Shuhei Nakamoto “Pedrosa has the last chance to win the world championship”
The HRC executive vice president sees the Spaniard as favorite in the title race
Shuhei Nakamoto, HRC executive vice president, speaking about last season and the one that is about to begin, said that this 2013 season could be Dani Pedrosa's last chance to win the title. The Repsol Honda Team rider had a great season in 2012 and was fighting for the title with his compatriot Jorge Lorenzo until the Australian GP. Pedrosa has improved a lot and last year was the best for him in MotoGP.
“I think that if Pedrosa doesn't win the title next year, he probably never will, but if he does then it's very likely that he will continue to be champion several times. Dani was known as a rider who won two races a season, but in 2011, he got four and then last season he managed to take home seven victories. In the first half of last season, it was a difficult period with the bike, we tried to get back on track after the weight regulation changed, and then when the tires changed. But once we introduced the new bike, he got better and better. In the Czech GP he fought a tremendous battle with Jorge (Lorenzo, dnr), they overtook each other several times, until finally Dani beat him to the finish line. I think he hasn't run a race like this since he was in 125, so I think it was a fundamental step for him. He also ran superbly in Valencia, even in difficult conditions with only a dry line. He amazed everyone by reaching the end while other riders fell. Our new bike has improved a lot when braking into corners and this seems to have given Dani confidence. For me he has more sensitivity than other pilots, he can identify small details, things that others don't "feel". He immediately feels small changes, for example when the track starts to lose grip. The downside of this is that he could become more cautious, but in 2012 he has overcome that trend. He fought and beat his only major rival, he drove in the rain to win in Malaysia, he managed to maintain his speed even in wet conditions, which was previously his weak point. There is no doubt about it, Dani has progressed and is now a very strong rider. I'm confident that he can win the next championship, I really can't miss seeing him on the podium."
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I hope he wins it Danielino deserves it!
Being the poor ignorant person that I am... why put this pressure on Dani?
I hope it's the usual newspaper article...
In his career he has often been unlucky, physically he is as if he were made of crystal: as soon as he touches the ground he shatters into a thousand pieces...
This year he had an excellent season, it went badly but he was great, in my questionable opinion...
The title and the article contradict each other... Come on Dani or... Marquez arrives and will Dani be considered second driver again after 3 races?
Well..., even though I preferred Lorenzo, in my opinion this year Pedro deserved the title, then... everyone thinks as they want.
Hi Lyon, I fully agree with you, actually he would have already deserved to win a long time ago but being very unlucky he has never won a world championship but I also agree that if he doesn't win it this year it will become tough.
I really wish Dani to win it!
...guys, not to go against the grain but, at the beginning of last season, just to remember the last one, many people said that Pedro was a number 2 or 3, that he didn't like melee etc...go and read the posts of a year ago...I have always defended him...and with this I close so as not to fuel further controversy...many people on this forum have very short memories...or are not as coherent as the nurse...greetings!!!
Personally... I outed both Preziosi and Pedrosa already in the first part of the 2012 Championship.
It may be that someone has different opinions and over time changes their mind and recognizes that they were wrong.
Only stupid people (in a good, non-offensive sense) never change their opinion, especially when faced with the evidence of facts.
I had to change my mind, in the sense that I thought that Pedro had no further room for improvement... and instead... ;)
Aeneas
That he is strong is indisputable, just as it is indisputable that this year he has shown greater wickedness, but above all greater hunger.
Personally I think I agree with the tone of the interview, in the sense that he has had many opportunities to take home a world championship, if I'm not mistaken he has been in HRC since 2006, in this period of time the other top drivers have one or two world championships they are put in your pocket.
Obviously there are many factors to consider, first and foremost its fragility; Stoner fell 1000 times with Ducati and never nothing, he grazed the asphalt and broke some bones...
It's also true, however, that few riders can count as many years as him in the internal Honda team, and for better or worse they've always brought him home, so I think it makes sense to put pressure on a rider, but it's also a big deal for Honda." investment".
Very honestly speaking, if Puig (who must have a certain weight) and Repsol hadn't been behind it, it would have collapsed some time ago... obviously, in my opinion.
...finally a serious person...the analysis is perfect, at least for me...I remember that Doohan joined HRC in '89...a phenomenon as a guide from the very beginning, especially on some tracks...but he always finished fourth, or on the podium ...he seemed to just enjoy skidding along the track and then nothing...after a couple of years Honda gave him an ultimatum...you all know how it ended...of course, Doohan's talent was perhaps different from that Dani's...then the physical issue comes in etc...however I understand Honda...
@fatman. strange but true I don't agree with you... I have a different opinion and I'll explain why. I think Pedrosa is very fast since his debut but I've already written about him in other posts that he lacks a little something compared to Jorge. and in my opinion last year his splendid comeback was only because Lorenzo didn't want to take risks and what harm could he do with Casey injured he was second... I totally agree with Andreag on the fact that Puig was a big obstacle for him. Also on doohan (great champion) I'm not much on your line.. let's say that as long as there were riders like Raney and Kewin, life wasn't very easy for him.. in fact, once they retired, he emerged. I apologize... from a "COMPARE"!!!
...it's true, buddy (what a nice term)...Doohan may have also had simpler opponents but, keep in mind the accident he had...he was almost driving with one leg, he had to change his driving style as he had the brake on handlebars etc...he's always great...then you know that every rider has to be compared to his era...in the 90s there was practically only him...if Eddie had stayed in Honda maybe it would have been more difficult to win so much, like this as if Wayne had also been part of the game... but with ifs and buts we're not going anywhere... the history of motorcycling continues beyond the riders...
…testoner, do you remember Eddie on the Cagiva in '91 in Italy…when he came out of the bend in front of Doohan and Kevin there was the loudest ovation I've ever heard…at that moment it showed the champion who gives everything... he was in front for a lap and a half with Mike trying to overtake him in every way... what a day... to tell about his nieces (who will come on scooter riders like my sister, unfortunately)...
..a bit like the geriatrician in these 2 years…
@fatman. and who can forget eddie!!!!!!! I think that if Cagiva has become one of the most competitive bikes, we have to say thanks to him!!!! and in my opinion castiglioni retired at the best time... the latest addition was, in my opinion, the most competitive bike of the lot. unfortunately that bike never raced (except with kilos as wild) but it was ahead in terms of chassis... if I remember correctly it had variable exhausts... (correct me if I'm wrong) returning to your point I remembered the episode but not where it happened. but you are a phenomenon at this!!
going back to Doohan's accident... it is said that his forte was that brake on the semi-handlebar!! (and not only that of course.) so much so that it was imitated by many riders who, according to them, said it worked better.
and just to stay on the topic of old(2) times... what opinion do you give to wayne gardener??? I liked it a lot...
@testoner
...I have this memory because I was there...I have a good memory of Gardner...we comrades like these drivers because they are mega generous but, keep in mind, if someone like Gardner drove today like he did then he would almost always be on the ground...I remember one of his races , I think in Japan '91, where he fell, broke the fairing and got back on his motorbike...in the rain...and fell again...I seem to remember that he also hurt himself, but I'm not so sure...I just finished have lunch and I have the classic "whisketto" in my body...just one finger....vertical ah, ah, ah!!!
You make me remember the old days..." 'A Testo'....but vaff..."...I'm joking, of course...now all we have left are memories...in SBK do you remember Bostrom? Well, in my opinion, Gardner drove like this... all messed up, generous beyond belief... unlike today's drivers... these rich guys who complain as soon as some other driver hits them in the race ah, ah, ah... sorry for the digression...
@fatman. I wanted to write the episode of gardener's double fall when I wrote to you!! That race left a huge impression on me. and what can I say about BB 155... IT WAS A PLEASURE TO SEE HIM DRIVE!!!!!! nice one about the finger…hahahahahah
@testoner
...I also liked Mamola, if only for his tightrope walking...if you remember, he was the Cagiva rider before the advent of Eddie and then Kocinsky...well, Eddie, when he picked up the motorbike that Randy had left, was amazed...he did 2 laps, he returned to the pits and said the exact words: "...but this motorbike has no suspension...it always works on a "pack" basis...on any motorbike the frame must be a rock and, only then, do you work on the suspension..."... the difference between a test rider and a tightrope walker is precisely this... the former drives and takes risks, entertains the public etc... the latter "understands" the motorbike, which is not something for everyone...
…I reversed test driver and tightrope walker…I hope you understand the meaning….
@fatman. mamola was fantastic!!! he was missing the most important thing (the brain) but still spectacular... and what about mcoy (here we start to be more modern) who was the last to brush with the 500!!! I remember an interview with Rossi who said: even if it's not profitable to see it, it's worth the price of all the tickets…. and if Pompeia said it man…
@fatman. I had a doubt...but between Mamola and Eddie there wasn't Chandler (I don't remember if it's spelled like that) who had Matt Mladin as a partner???
@testoner
...I'm sober, therefore not reliable...it seems to me that Doug Chandler raced with Kocinsky last year...before he was at Suzuki...Eddie seems to me to have teamed up with Barros...well...did you really drink milk? I repudiate you as it appears ah, ah, ah!!!
@testoner
...among other things Chandler was winning in Hungary on a semi-wet track in '92...then overtaken, if you remember, by Eddie...he gained 6 seconds a lap, he took a risk with the slick tires and was rewarded...what a race...sometimes I mythical races come to mind...do you know that they call me not only "fatman" but also "Ed il wrist" like the Joe Bar comics?
Too bad I haven't been on the track in forever...
yes really... when the shop was closed I wasn't 100% sure... 100 proseccos at the bar and a cup of hot milk. anyway i'm sure chandler paired up with mladin. I'll have to check the rest too.
@ed the position.. hahaha great!! Now I know your shit!!!!! I'll call you like this from today on... ahahahaha beautiful!!!
…I also remember Mladin…probably the very last year…I was pissed off because Cagiva was already planning to give up…shame!!!
…yes, it should be the last year…John went to SBK first with Ducati and then won with Honda…yes, it must be like this…
Wrist…. Maybe it's the milk that makes me wrong...
@ed the wrist. minky@ you have a memory... I went to check..you only screwed up last year. jonnh and chandler.
I'm sure that this year Dani will be competitive and constant...in fact...I believe that if Honda manages to give him a bike as fast as the one in the second half of the last championship it is very likely that he will win the title with 2-3 races to spare...
...stoners, for good luck you have to say that the gynecologist wins everything...
this from Nakamoto for me is just a message of encouragement for Pedro "at least I hope"... we all know well that if he manages to find the right feeling with the bike straight away he is very strong, what he lacks is malice... living with Marc Marquez It won't be very simple but I'm sure it can be annoying on many occasions... damn, I can't wait for the world championship to start again! oops motoGP
...well done...motoGP....and follow moto2 and moto3 as I ask you ah, ah, ah!!!
I don't want to disappoint you all, but ever since he arrived in MotoGP together with Stoner, I've been rooting for him (or rather, sympathizing with him), ergo I condemned him to never win, such is the bad luck I bring XD