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Honda To Quit MotoGP: Spec ECU, Software To Be Made Mandatory
HRC team principal, Shuhei Nakamoto has warned about Honda leaving MotoGP championship, if Dorna commercial rights holder of MotoGP roll-out the standard spec-software.
Software allowed by Dorna is one of the dividing factors between ‘Factory teams' and ‘Open class' entries. However, 2017 is when the standard software may become compulsory.
Every team has an option to map the ECU, however the standard spec-software cannot be modified. The upcoming season will require all teams to run Magneti Marelli's ECU.
The manufacturers are allowed to use their own software, however only 20 litres of fuel is permitted per race. Teams running standard Marelli software are allotted 24 litres of fuel per race.
Ducati, however is the only manufacturer working with the standard Magneti Marelli software. We hope 2014 to be a competitive year for the Italian manufacturer.
If Dorna rolls-out the standard controlled ECU, which is to be shared by factory teams and open class entries, there is a 99% chance Honda will quit MotoGP.
ECU or the power train control module (PCM) controls a series of engine actuators ensuring optimal engine performance. Motorsports requires advanced standalone/race ECUs which helps in launch control, rev limiter, gear control and other variables.
Honda's concern can be understood, as a race ECU is often equipped with a data logger recording all sensors for later analysis using specially developed softwares in a PC.
Repsol Honda entered MotoGP in 1995 with a legendary 3 rider line-up of Mick Doohan, Alex Criville and Shinichi Itoh.
Honda, the leading developers of motorcycle technology prefer MotoGP to test their latest engineering efforts. This racing platform is considered to be the best test-bed for manufacturers. If development scope is taken away, Honda has no reason to participate.
Video: A Blast From The Past - Honda's Golden Era Of Racing
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This is not the first time HRC team principal, Shuhei Nakamoto has expressed his concern. The huge sums of money spent only for racing cannot be justified. Nakamoto concluded saying, "Honda's position is not new, I said it other times and I wasn't joking".
MotoGP champions Freddie Spencer, Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner and reigning champion ‘Marc Marquez' have dominated the track on Honda machinery.
What will be the scenario without Honda in the paddock?
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