Grand Prix motorcycles

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 34. Chapters: AJS Porcupine, Aprilia RS125, Aprilia RS3 Cube, Aprilia RSV 250, Aprilia RS 125 R, BSL 500 V3, Cagiva GP500, Ducati Desmosedici, ELF 500 ROC, Honda NR, Honda NR500, Honda NS500, Honda NSR500, Honda NSR500V, Honda RC110, Honda RC211V, Honda RC212V, Honda RC213V, Honda RS125R, Honda RS250R, Ilmor X3, Kawasaki KR250 and KR350, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR, Maxtra 125, Moto Guzzi V8, Muz 500, MV Agusta 500 Three, Norton Manx, Pulse 500, Sabre V4, Suzuki GSV-R, Suzuki RGV500, Suzuki RG 500, Suzuki RG 500 gamma, Team Roberts KR211V, Team Roberts KR212V, Yamaha RD48, Yamaha RD56, Yamaha YZR-M1, Yamaha YZR500. Excerpt: The Honda RC212V is a road racing motorcycle developed to race in the 800 cc (49 cu in) MotoGP series. Officially introduced on 30 October 2006 as the RC211V replacement in the MotoGP series, it was developed by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) throughout 2006 and began officially racing in the 2007 season. The model name designates the following: The RC212V features an 800 cc (49 cu in) liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC 4-valve V4 to power the all new chassis built with mass centralization and handling as top priority. Dani Pedrosa testing the RC212V.Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden rode the factory-backed versions, while the customer machines were ridden by Marco Melandri, Toni Elías, Carlos Checa, and Shinya Nakano. A perennial issue with Honda's GP motorcycle is which team and rider receives the best parts and whether performance differences are due to the rider not the machine. Before the racing season started in 2007, Melandri was quoted as saying, "In the past few tests I've seen a big progression with Pedrosa's bike, but we're still waiting for new parts from Honda." After a few rounds, Honda riders did not achieve the results expected, leading HRC chief Satoru Horiike to admit that they made a mistake in the motorcycle's development. Melandri decided to ride with the Ducati team in 2008 and Pedrosa's dissatisfaction led to rumors that he was leaving Honda. Towards the end of 2007, however, there were signs of improvement, with the Repsol Honda team taking the last five pole positions of the season and Pedrosa winning the last round at Valencia. Nicky Hayden testing the RC212V.For 2008, HRC planned to use pneumatic valve springs and an all-new chassis. The mass centralization of the 2007 model was thought to have gone too far, and instead the 2008 model is more open, reducing heat and improving balance. The factory team riders are Pedrosa (through 2009) and Hayden (through 2008). Satellite team riders are Nakano, Andrea Dovizioso, Randy de Puniet and Alex de Angelis