other thing—achieved what
was once (and probably will be
again) every rider's dream: a
MotoGP Honda ride, replacing
Taka Nakagami in the satellite
LCR team.
Everything about Honda is
topsy-turvy right now. The win-
ningest brand in racing history
is
presently plum last in the Con-
structors' Championship, with
nothing
likely to change over the
remainder of the season, for the
third year in succession.
Just to put this in proportion,
in 75 years of the Constructors'
title, for the first 17 of which,
and for a subsequent 11, they
didn't compete, Honda has won
25 times. Next, MV Agusta with
16, Yamaha with 14, and Suzuki
with seven.
I
t's a curious state of affairs
when Honda's favorite protege
signs for Aprilia. Talk about
topsy-turvy.
But that's what's happened
to Ai Ogura, the latest Japa-
nese bright hope and, in fact,
the brightest for some
time.
Earmarked ever since his Asia
Talent Cup days as a shoo-in for
Japan's racing giant, the rider
has found better things to do.
Meanwhile, his great friend,
roommate and former Moto2
Honda Team Asia teammate
Somkiat Chantra has done the
P146
CN II IN THE PADDOCK
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
IT'S NOT JUST A
FALLOW PERIOD
OR A COUPLE
OF YEARS OF
NEAR MISSES.
HONDA'S
HARD
TIMES
Is Honda's future in
MotoGP looking brighter?
PHOTO: GOLD & GOOSE
