On the final day of the Sepang MotoGP test, Honda’s Nicky Hayden blew the field away with a lap more than one second quicker than anyone else, and well under the lap time that took pole position at this track earlier this year. To be fair, the lap was achieved with a “qualifier” tire from Michelin. It was also done on the 2007 Honda, rather than the 2008 model under development.
Nevertheless, this is more evidence that Honda and Michelin, as well as Hayden, do not plan to play catch-up at the beginning of next year’s series. The competitiveness of the Honda this year was lacking in the earlier rounds when Ducati caught everyone by surprise. Hayden and Pedrosa were much happier with their bikes by the end of the year.
