If there is one special turner/coach at the MotoGP level who can step into a team and find what is missing, that person is Erv Kanemoto. In and out of GP racing over the last few decades, Kanemoto is well respected by team managers and riders alike. He has worked with some of the best, and even run his own team on occasion with good success.
Kanemoto worked with Max Biaggi when Biaggi moved to the 500 GP class after securing his fourth 250 GP World championship. I believe that they won their first race together that year. It was the year that Biaggi took on Mick Doohan. Doohan prevailed, but Biaggi put up plenty of good scraps with Kanemoto’s able assistance.
You might think it odd that Repsol Honda would hire Kanemoto to work with Nicky Hayden and Max Biaggi. It is. These are desperate times at Repsol Honda, however, and hiring Kanemoto can only help.
We already know that Kanemoto works well with Biaggi, but he could have an even more important impact on young Nicky Hayden, who still needs to learn the fine art of setting up a GP machine. Kanemoto could be the perfect teacher.
