Honda boss ‘disappointed’ with 2010 outcome

Honda boss Shuhei Nakamoto reckons he’ll look back on 2010 with a sense of disappointment, despite the Japanese factory enjoying its most successful season in the 800cc MotoGP era.

Dani Pedrosa won four races for his best tally in his premier class career while Andrea Dovizioso emerged as a consistent podium contender after a tough 2009.

But Nakamoto said the results were still disappointing considering Honda failed once again to seriously threaten Yamaha’s domination of the 800cc era.

Spaniard Pedrosa was enjoying the best spell of MotoGP career when his title challenge was cruelly ended in premature and painful fashion at Honda’s home race in Japan.

A jammed throttle broke Pedrosa’s left collarbone badly broken and he is still to resume full training as a result of the accident in early October.

Nakamoto told MCN: “If Dani didn’t have his accident in Motegi I believe we could have taken the fight until the last Grand Prix. Unfortunately that happened and this year’s final result I am so disappointed with.

“But we have to accept it and try and make better. Maybe to fight in Motegi with Casey was not so difficult with our package and also in Sepang. I don’t know but I’m sure we would have been very strong with Dani in those races.

“Usually Dani is three tenths faster than Andrea and in those two races he was second. This year I’ve been happy with Andrea. He has progressed a lot and overall he is growing with our machine.

“The overall package of rider and machine I am happy to show that Honda is growing and getting better.

“But the results are still so disappointing. Our base was competitive enough to fight this year and I hope next year we can show better results.”