For Josh And Mellissa

[lonewrench]

So Listen,
This is a message to tell the average Joe how the latest allegations made towards Josh should be interpreted in my opinion.They shouldn't be! Period! The penalty will and should be assessed by American Honda and or Erion Racing,period.Unfortunately it wont be,the AMA states, much like other sanctioning bodies, that the rider is ultimately responsible for the actions of his/her crew and the preparation of the equipment.Yup,I know it seems a bit out landish but in the end that's the deal.
   So tell me, should Josh be stripped of his bonus money if there in fact was any from sponsors? if I were a sponsor of Josh's I would pay him.If they don't they are fools. In the end,it's tough for some people to believe that Josh couldn't know of the mods made to his bikes.Many will say he had them all along and that's why he won all those races and why he wears the # 1 plate in F/X.Bullshit to that! Josh breaks his balls day in, day out.He gives back to the sport ten fold.He rides with champions and Amateurs in the same day off the track. He doesn't look down his nose at you,he doesn't judge.He is a journey man in the industry.
Personally I think Josh Hayes is one of the most if not the most under rated rider in the paddock today.I know Josh will deal with this in his typical professional way,that's why he has the friends he has,he isn't a shit talker and doesn't play the blame game.
  In the end if you are simply a rider,who rides and has someone else prepare your machine be aware of what you and they are doing at all times.There has to be a certain level of trust as well.I will tell you from working with pro teams in the past if we didn't make it through tech post race and it was something we did we would be off the team,no discussion.Team Valvoline Emgo Suzuki 1999.It was in our contracts.
  By the way,I am in the business of bringing up racers, what would Cory West have said if we got caught cheating last year?would he have still gotten a chance to ride for a great team?What would my present boss say? When Payton and Brett Sassaman start winning it will be because of a great package put together by Greg Sassaman not for light cranks,nitrous oxide or human growth hormones.If that were the case I would be out of a job!
      Be made aware,want to be a champion? think like one,work like one,train like one,carry yourself like one.Don't cheat or get cheated!

[Super Dave]

Nice post!

Good guy, Josh. 

It sucks, but how would one penalize Honda other than stripping the win from Josh?

In previous years, the penalties have been pretty different when you compare how they were given out to private riders vs paid manufacturer riders.    Honda ruined their opportunity to advertise their CBR600RR as the winner of the Daytona 200.  Really, it's the only way.  You'd hope that whoever pays Josh's contract from Honda pays him the bonus he was probably promised in addition to the ones he lost from his other sponsors because of their mistake or inability to recognize that the rule do actually have a place in racing.

We'll never know.  But one can hope.

Josh did his job, and he did it will.  Good for him!  I'm sure Chaz and Steve know that too.  Sucks to be made the winner off the track, but this is going to stop finally this year with some of the politics removed from the rules "playing" field. 

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

While it is a bunch of crap for the rider you also have to remember that Josh is riding FOR Erion, he is a hired employee, his job is to race the bike as supplied to him by his employer (the team also doesn't work for Josh, they work for the employer which is Erion). At that level it's not about the rider anymore, it's about the employer generating money thru sales by having the most competative machines, that's very easy to forget. I've talked to Josh before, he's a good guy with alot of drive, but ultimately that doesn't matter. The goal of the team is to make the employer more attractive to consumers, the rider is more or less just a hired gun to bring them toward that goal. As far as cheating and passing tech goes, it's about the employer providing the rider with the most competative bike possible (most likely involving some degree of rule bending) and not getting caught cheating (which unfortunately is quite common).

It sucks for Josh, but an employers focus isn't about putting wins in the book for him personally as a racer, it's about putting wins in the book for Erion.

[Super Dave]

I'll call BS.

Lonewrech will understand that you have people you work with that you like, those you don't, and those you love.

There are relationships there that are sometimes beyond money and just "a job".

Having those special relationships with a rider moves everyone forward.  Racing has a lot of measure of "personal victories", as there is only one winner.

I didn't see JB leaving Rossi nor Rossi leaving JB.  While, yeah, they are making money, the relationship is very important to both of them. 

Yamaha didn't give them enough last year.  Honda gave Josh and his guys something illegal.  Probably has nothing to do with them, but it's costing them money too.

[Boober]

I'll call BS.

Honda gave Josh and his guys something illegal. 

Really?  you know this for sure dave?  Erion didn`t lighten the crank on their own........??!!

[Super Dave]

No, I can't say that the Erion brothers didn't go down to Costa Mesa with the crank in hand and have it done.  But Honda has been well known for having factory specials. 

Josh, didn't do it.

[Boober]

I don`t think anyone thinks Josh did it.  Doesn`t even need to be said. smart money is on the Erion guys.

[racerhall]

all Josh does is ride the bike, im sure he dosent know what is in the engine, not his fault but he is part of a team and the team messed up so its in all of them

[StumpysWife]

Remember back when the Suzuki frames were illegal (no VIN, I believe) and the AMA deemed that there are no teams racing, only riders? 

Another instance where that precedent needs to be looked at.  I don't know how, but it does. 

Josh lost no fans.  He'll win many more races legally, maybe even another Daytona.  Such is life...careful what you wish for, kiddies. 

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

I found the Johnny Rock Page callout of Miguel and what his JOB is with Honda rather fitting for this thread as well, pay attention to the 4th paragraph in the article on RRW's website:

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=31735

[Garywc]

that sucks for Josh he rode a great ride
I am sure he had no idea there was something out of spec on his bike