Honda RC212V

Infobox Motorcycle
name = Honda RC212V


aka =
manufacturer = Honda Racing Corporation
production = 2006-present
predecessor = Honda RC211V
successor =
parent_company =
class =
platform =
engine = convert|800|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on four-stroke V4
transmission =
rake =
trail =
wheelbase =
length =
width =
seat_height =
dry_weight =
wet_weight =
fuel_economy =
fuel_capacity =
related = Honda CBR600RR
Honda CBR1000RR
similar = Ducati Desmosedici GP7
Ilmor X3
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR
Suzuki GSV-R
Team Roberts KR212V
Yamaha YZR-M1The Honda RC212V is a road racing motorcycle developed to race in the convert|800|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on MotoGP series. Officially introduced on 30 October, 2006 as the RC211V replacement in the MotoGP series, it was developed by Honda Racing Corporation "(HRC)" throughout 2006 and began officially racing in the 2007 season.

The model name designates the following:
* RC= Honda's traditional racing prefix
* 212= second works bike of the 21st century
* V= V engine

The RC212V features an convert|800|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC 4-valve V4 to power the all new chassis built with mass centralization and handling as top priority.

2007

Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden rode the factory-backed versions, while the customer machines were ridden by Marco Melandri, Toni Elías, Carlos Checa, and Shinya Nakano. A perennial issue with Honda's GP motorcycle is which team and rider receives the best parts and whether performance differences are due to the rider not the machine. Before the racing season started in 2007, Melandri was quoted as saying, "In the past few tests I've seen a big progression with Pedrosa's bike, but we're still waiting for new parts from Honda."cite news |title=Melandri Still Waiting on Equal Machinery |language=English |publisher=MotoGP.com |date=2007-02-28 |url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2007/Melandri+still+waiting+on+equal+machinery |accessdate=2007-02-28]

After a few rounds, Honda riders did not achieve the results expected, leading HRC chief Satoru Horiike to admit that they made a mistake in the motorcycle's development.cite news |title=Season 2007 - Honda: "We got it wrong" |language=English |publisher=Eurosport |date=2007-05-10 |url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10052007/58/season-2007-honda-wrong.html |accessdate=2007-09-05] Melandri decided to ride with the Ducati team in 2008cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/61083 |title=Melandri to ride for Ducati in 2008 |publisher=Autosport.com |date=2007-07-22 |accessdate=2007-07-23] and Pedrosa's dissatisfaction led to rumors that he was leaving Honda.cite news |last=Noyes |first=Dennis |title=Pedrosa in Talks with Honda, (Possibly) Kawasaki |language=English |publisher=SpeedTV.com |date=2007-08-22 |url=http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/motogp/39654/ |accessdate=2007-09-05] Towards the end of 2007, however, there were signs of improvement, with the Repsol Honda team taking the last five pole positions of the season and Pedrosa winning the last round at Valencia.

2008

For 2008, HRC planned to use pneumatic valve springs and an all-new chassis.cite news |title=2008 RC212V Unveiled by Repsol Honda |language=English |publisher=MotoGP.com |date=2007-11-06 |url=http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/motogp_news.htm?menu=news&news_id=21508&championship_id=3&section=1 |accessdate=2007-11-07] The mass centralization of the 2007 model was thought to have gone too far, and instead the 2008 model is more open, reducing heat and improving balance.cite news |last=Adams |first=Dean |title=Nick Hayden Interview: Epilog |language=English |publisher=SuperbikePlanet.com |date=2007-11-27 |url=http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2007/Nov/071127-69-4.htm |accessdate= 2007-11-27] The factory team riders are Pedrosa (through 2009cite news |last=Moody |first=Toby |title=Pedrosa confirmed until 2009 |language=English |publisher=Autosport.com |date=2007-09-21 |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/62588 |accessdate=2007-11-27] ) and Hayden (through 2008cite news |title=Hayden re-signs for Honda |language=English |publisher=Crash.net |date=2007-09-02 |url=http://www.crash.net/news_View~t~Hayden-re-signs-for-Honda-~cid~6~id~137706.htm |accessdate=2007-11-27] ). Satellite team riders are Nakanocite news |title=Nakano Signs Gresini Honda Deal |language=English |publisher=MotoGP.com |date=2007-10-25 |url= http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/motogp_news.htm?menu=news&news_id=21375&championship_id=3&section=1 |accessdate= 2007-11-27] , Andrea Doviziosocite news |title=Dovizioso confirms MotoGP move |language=English |publisher=Crash.net |date=2007-09-15 |url=http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~6~id~154512.htm |accessdate=2007-11-27] , Randy de Punietcite news |last=Moody |first=Toby |title=De Puniet signs two-year deal with LCR |language=English |publisher=Autosport.com |date=2007-08-24 |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/61712 |accessdate=2007-11-27] and Alex de Angelis.cite news |last=Birt |first=Matthew |title=Estoril MotoGP: Alex de Angelis to join Gresini Honda |language=English |publisher=MotorCycleNews.com |date=2007-09-15 |url=http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2007/september/sep10-16/sep1507estorilmotogpalexdeangelistojoingresinihonda/?&R=EPI-94636 |accessdate=2007-11-27]

The 2008 pneumatic valve version has only been available to the Repsol Honda team, and in pre-season testing it has been highly problematic. The original intent of running an all-new engine and chassis was shelved when the engine did not perform to expectations. Pedrosa and Hayden then tested a 2007 engine in a 2008 chassis, and after still being near the bottom of testing timesheets, the Repsol Honda team used the 2007 version in the first round’s practice for comparison purposes.cite news |last=Moody |first=Toby |title=Honda to run last year's bike in practice |language=English |publisher=Autosport.com |date=2008-03-06 |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65502 |accessdate=2008-03-06] For the race, Pedrosa chose a revised 2008 chassis while Hayden chose the 2007.cite news |last=Young |first=Colin |title=MOTOGP: Stoner Victorious Under the Lights |language=English |publisher=SPEEDTV.com |date=2008-03-09 |url=http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/spoiler-warning-motogp-results-round-1//P2/ |accessdate=2008-03-10] The pneumatic engine was race-debuted by Hayden at the Donington round, and he was charged with developing the new engine for the rest of the season (Pedrosa deciding to continue using the conventional valve engine).cite news |last=Strang |first=Simon |last=Lostia |first=Michele |title=Hayden to continue with pneumatic engine |language=English |publisher=Autosport |date=2008-06-25 |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68619 |accessdate=2008-07-21] An electronic problem at the subsequent Assen round caused Hayden to run out of fuel just before the line, allowing Colin Edwards to come around him and take the remaining podium position.cite news |title=Hayden assured of electronic issue resolution |language=English |publisher=MotoGP.com |date=2008-07-07 |url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Hayden+assured+of+electronic+issue+resolution |accessdate=2008-07-21]

At the 13th round it was announced that Pedrosa would switch to Bridgestone tires for the remainder of the seasoncite news |title=Pedrosa switches to Bridgestone with immediate effect |language=English |publisher=MotoGP.com |date=2008-08-31 |url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Pedrosa+switches+to+Bridgestone+with+immediate+effect |accessdate=2008-09-05] , and he also planned to start racing the pneumatic valved engine in the 14th round at Indianapolis.cite news |title=Pedrosa to race pneumatic at Indy |language=English |publisher=Crash.net |date=2008-09-05 |url=http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/168566-0/pedrosa_to_race_pneumatic_at_indy.html |accessdate=2008-09-05]

2009

For 2009, the factory team riders will be Pedrosa and Dovizioso, and the satellite team riders will be Elías, De Angelis, de Puniet and Yuki Takahashi; Elías will be given a factory spec machine.cite news |title=TEAM SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI - DEFINED SPORTS PROGRAMME FOR 2009 |language=English |publisher=Gresini Racing |date=2008-10-02 |url=http://www.gresiniracing.com/index.php?IDC=2&ID=643 |accessdate=2008-10-02]

pecifications

References

External links

* [http://world.honda.com/HRC/ HRC] official site
* [http://www.motorcycledaily.com/30october06_rc212v.htm Honda Releases More Details On Their New 800cc MotoGP Contender] article from Motorcycle Daily
* [http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=3898&Page=1 Honda Talks 2007 RC212V] article from Motorcycle USA
* [http://www.crash.net/news_View~t~Honda-unveil--RC212V--~cid~6~id~139699.htm Honda unveil 'RC212V'] article from Crash.net
* [http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/motogp/33692/ Honda Unveils RC212V V4 800] article from SPEEDtv