MotoGP Blog

Gresini rider Nakano gets a new Honda to ride from Brno onwards - the same bike as the factory Repsol riders have - in order to develop the 2009 satellite bike for the Gresini, JIR and LCR teams.

On the announcement that this was to happen, Dovizioso suddenly had a long line of reporters at his doorstep looking for a quote. Why? Because he has been Honda faithful through his 125cc and 250cc career, and it is no secret that he managed some truly awesome results with a less-than-competitive machine last year. He’s also been top Honda satellite rider this year, managing a couple of 4th places and beating the odd factory bike along the way, including Hayden at Laguna. So you can see why this might be less than well received by Dovi, and why the reporters have been trying to get a soundbite out of him.

In reality, these decisions to provide new machinery for development are not based on recent results. This was a deal done most likely right at the start of the season, as part of the contract between Gresini and Honda and Nakano. Honda has a desire to see a Japanese rider competing on one of it’s machines at the highest level, and struck a deal with Gresini to take Nakano as a rider. A sweetener to the deal will have been the promise of an update to the bike during the season, which is just what has happened.

Fear not, Dovi. You’ll be on better machinery next year, when you are wearing Repsol colours. Nakano will still be a satellite rider…if he’s lucky. I’m damned if he doesn’t have the coolest helmet design though.