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SBK, Hayden: too many risks with the Honda we have

The Kentucky Kid, after the crash: "I was squeezing everything out of it because I'm a fighter, but we are still far off"

SBK: Hayden: too many risks with the Honda we have

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The opening round of World Superbike did not bring great results for team Red Bull Honda. Nicky Hayden took 5 points in Race 1 and crashed in Race 2. Stefan Bradl only brought home two points.

In any case, the former MotoGP duo begins the new adventure with the CBR 1000RR from 15th and 18th place in the overall standings. If they thought having a nice livery from the energy drink sponsor would be enough to bring a dead horse back to life, well Phillip Island was a brusque return to reality.

A reality that says that the new Honda project, in its current stage of development and with very few tests done, is not at the same level as, not only Kawasaki and Ducati, but not even MV Agusta, BMW and Aprilia, all bikes that certainly do not have the motorcycle racing giant backing them…But is Honda really behind team Ten Kate? It doesn’t seem that way to us, considering the fact that there is no HRC anywhere on the fairing.

“During the race I didn’t feel too bad – Nicky explained – I was somehow battling with Laverty and Savadori, but evidently I exaggerated on the braking before turn 10. The telemetry did not clarify the reason for the crash. I wasn’t going much faster than the previous lap, but everything happened quickly and I also hit my recently operated knee in the fall and now it is hurting a bit. It’s a shame…I was just trying to squeeze out of the bike everything it had, but I’m a fighter. In certain spots I had to take too many risks.”

The Honda CBR 1000RR still has many problems. Hayden knew that being competitive at the beginning of the season would be unlikely, but maybe he feared worse but hoped for better.

“Compared to the Aprilia, we are losing ground in acceleration because we reduced power with the electronics to have a less twitchy engine, which ruins the tyres more.”

It seems that already for Thailand, the Honda will have its first step in development: a new exhaust and new electronics, but will it be enough?

“We have already tested these things, but they haven’t helped us – the Kentucky Kid commented – I think we need to focus on other areas of development, but at the moment it is hard to give any certain indications.”

Both Hayden and Bradl certainly do not deserve to be in the rear guard. The Honda name is on the tank and Red Bull on the fairing. More needs to be done.

Translated by Jonathan Blosser
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