Marco Melandri happy with new Honda policy

Marco Melandri has said Honda’s new policy of starting the 2010 MotoGP campaign with all six RC212V machines at the same spec will significantly aid bike development.

HRC has scrapped its usual strategy of rolling out different spec bikes for its satellite teams in an effort to find a clear development direction for the RC212V, which has yet to win a world title in the 800cc era.

The only difference between the bikes campaigned by factory rider Dani Pedrosa and satellite San Carlo Gresini Honda rider Melandri is in electronics.

And former 250GP world champion Melandri said it was a positive step to start from an equal base.

The Italian, who is looking to get his career back on track after a nightmare spell with Ducati in 2008 was followed by the upheaval of Kawasaki’s withdrawal last year, said: “The fact that the bikes are similar is going to be a big benefit for Honda.

“They can listen to feedback and data and work in only one direction instead of three or four like last year,“ said the 27-year-old.

Melandri made an inauspicious start to 2010 in Sepang last week when he ended the first of three winter tests down in 11th place.

But he said: “This is a great chance for me to start again and believe in myself.”