Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1542397
lnre Takeo Fukui akeo Fukui joined Honda Motor Company in 1969 as a 2S-year-old with a bachelor's degree in applied science. Today he's the president and CEO after a career of major innovations. His first maior contribution was the CVCC engine that he developed for the Honda Civic in 1973. But it was motorcycles where he'd make his greater mark. The oval-pistoned NR500 was introduced in August of 1979 and raced brieft. One of his fondest memories is of Freddie Spencer riding the NR to victory over Kenny Roberts in a lO-lap heat race at Laguna Seca in l98l . Fukui became chief engineer of Honda Racing Corporation in 1982 and immediately his impact was felt. Spen€er beat Roberts for his first 500cc title in 1983, then won the 250cc and 500cc titles in 1985. Wayne Gardner won the 500cc title in 1987, Eddie Lawson the 500cc title in 1989. Fukui was promoted to senior managing director of Honda R&D in 1990 and held various poss since then' becoming presiden! and CEO in June 2003. Fukui made the short trip from Tokoyo to ShanShai for the Chinese Grand Prix. He was rewarded with a Repsol Honda one-two finish - Dani Pedrosa over Nicky Hayden in the factory's first victory since Hayden won at Laguna Seca last July. On the morning of the race, Fukui met with a small contingent of the international press. He took questions in English, but his answers were translated from Japanese into English. The following is an edited ranscript of that session: How will you contain the speed of the 800s in the future? First we decrease the engine capacity from 990 to 8OO. ln that point of view more safety for more riders. Considering the safety - we must always study - which is the safest in every asPect. About Formula One, the engine capacity has been decreased from three liters to 2,4 liters. LookinS at the practice time yesterday, it's almost the same now,n Barcelona. Like Formula One, in MotoGP the lap time in 800 will be close to the 990 in the near future, so we need some kind of restriction like the specification ofthe fuel. ln the racing world we need some regulations to improve the safeq/ and also the environment- lryhat about restricted 990s running with 800s next year? I think for the intermediate Period, maybe this is nec- essary to PUt some restriction to the caPacity of990, not for the works team, but for the other teams. ln the Formula One world, there is one team still using V-10 with restrictions, but we are saying that they have an advantage. Would you expect the second Ducati team to run restricted 990s? Some Honda teams will react to the new reguiations, but maybe some other Private teams will put some restrictions on 990s if regulations allow. ls Nicky Hayden's current bike the basis for the 8(X)? I don't know the details. but of course I know the machine Ni.ky Hayden's riding now is completely differ- ent from the 800. Do you still take a clos€ interest in engineerin8 at HRC! At the moment, [Sugurr-r] Kanazawa and Horiikke-san are in charSe of HRC, but still lwant to go as much as possible to HRC and work with them \ -.4. 1 I I I tl !- t ffi 60 .JUNE 14,2006 CYCLE NEWS fr,.[I(L IEW t -t \ L l ( r ? I il t' ! al ta t -,^ I \, tlE.ffB \ 4i lF- ra-- , C ia a BY HENNY RAY ABRA TS