The on-going saga of CK vs the factories is throwing up more and more interesting sidelights. Most notably the interview with a Spanish web site overnight in which HRC’s boss, Sheuhi Nakamoto, poured a big bucket of cold water on CK’s plan to impose a “spec” ECU in 2014. Stating that it would drive up costs due to factories having to do all their R&D again, Nakamoto re-iterated his claim that KC didn’t have the authority to impose the regulations. You can read the transcript of the interview in the link that follows (thanks to twowheelsblog)
Worth reading as there are some other interesting quotes about other issues as well.
However, as is always the case with situations like this, there are two sides to every story with David Emmet (who I seem to be quoting a lot lately) debunking the added expense claim completely in his article on motomatters.com
Honda’s argument is “specious”
Now, much as I respect David, I have to add here that he has ignored the other half of Nakamoto’s argument, the bit where he says that ““The standard ECU will not be imposed. Dorna must discuss all technical rules with MSMA before a decision is made. We have a five year contract with Dorna (2012-2016) and it has detailed clauses. With this contract, Dorna cannot do anything unless we agree”.”
So, name your poison. The argument rumbles on and yesterday’s position where it seemed that CK had trumped the factories may not be now as clear-cut as it seemed.
There is, after all, too much at stake on either side for either party to be running up the white flag just yet.