Honda signals 2008 MotoGP comeback

Honda's wounded pride at being beaten in this year’s MotoGP championship by Aussie Casey Stoner on a Ducati has recently been salved somewhat at the final day of MotoGp testing in Jerez. This was also the final test session for the year.

Both Repsol-backed riders, Dani Pedrosa (pictured earlier this year) and Nicky Hayden, managed to top the time sheets with some impressive laps on their 2008 RC212V machines.

Pedrosa broke the ice near the end of the day, dropping under the 1'39" barrier for  the first time, almost nine-tenths faster than his pole time for last season’s race at the same track.

A pleasant surprise for Yamaha was new MotoGP recruit and 2007 250 champ Jorge Lorenzo, who  managed third on the table, proving he knows how to put together a competitive lap on the bigger machinery.

Meanwhile Honda's PR machine has been on the warpath, declaring the company's determination not to let another season slip from its grasp, while confirming it is staying with Michelin tyres in 2008:

"Honda believes MotoGP is an arena for supreme competition and also the place where ultimate collaboration between people and technology can be achieved," said HRC president Masumi Hamane.

"We believe we must have mutual respect in this world of supremacy in order to retain our dignity and to succeed.

"This year the Repsol Honda Team and Michelin have been defeated. So now we must strive to return to the winner's circle where we belong. We believe next year is the year we will do this.

"We are determined to fight back with all our might and dignity in order to win back the title."

Frederic Henry-Biabaud, Director of Michelin Group Motorsport Division, added: "We at Michelin are honoured and proud to continue this very successful partnership with Repsol Honda, with whom we have won eight world championships since 1995.

"And we are committed to achieving victory in 2008 through very close, intense and technological collaboration."

Meanwhile Aussie Casey Stoner has been in the wars. Ducati.com reports:
Casey Stoner did not take part in the final day of testing at Jerez as a result of the crash yesterday afternoon in which he injured the ligaments in his left shoulder. The pain intensified during the night and Stoner, in agreement with the team, decided to return immediately to Australia for further medical checks and to begin treatment.

The early return home means that Casey will not be able to attend the celebrations for Ducati's World MotoGP title victory in Bologna, which however will go ahead as planned.

"It's never much fun when you get injured" said Stoner, "but I'd rather it happened when you've got a couple of months ahead of you to recover. I'm sorry to disappoint all the Ducati fans who have given me their support during the season and who had hoped to see me in Bologna on Sunday, but I am sure they would prefer to see me in perfect form again for the first tests on the Desmosedici next season. I'm sure it'll be a great event for everyone at Ducati, they deserve it. We achieved our aim together and I am so sorry that we can't celebrate it together. Unfortunately things are much worse than I thought yesterday after the crash, and this morning we decided that the best thing to do was to go back to Australia as soon as possible for further checks with the doctor who operated my right shoulder a couple of years ago. I'm sure he'll get me back in shape again this time".

Stoner had in fact dominated the first day's time sheets, albeit at a pace nearly two seconds slower than that of Pedrosa on the final day.

Day three tests, Jerez: