Honda optimistic of recovery

The Japanese manufacturer have not won since Toni Elias's victory in Portugal last season, while the works Repsol Honda outfit are without a triumph for 13 races since Nicky Hayden led home teammate Dani Pedrosa at Laguna Seca last year.

Their lack of speed in 2007 has left lead rider Pedrosa languishing behind Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi in the points standings, but Honda remain calm about their position and their chances of recovery.

Team manager Chris Herring told autosport.com: "Honda didn't envisage that the 990 times would be beaten. They concentrated on the corners and quite clearly the targets were not high enough. And Ducati caught everybody with their pants down."

Herring claims that Honda's toughest spell this season came after the season-opener in Qatar, when the reality of the situation hit home for the first time.

"I would say they are not under it as much as they were after Qatar. The pressure is on, and they're not relaxed by any means, but there is less pressure than after Qatar," he said. 

"We have had seven races and scored six podiums. How many podiums have Kawasaki, Suzuki and even Yamaha had? Plus, the races coming up are pretty good - and are not so angled towards top speed."

And Herring believes the lessons of the past, when Honda have bounced back brilliantly from disappointing campaigns, should put them in good stead for a future recovery.

"It's a development year and, without wanting to dismay anyone or give the impression that we've given up on the season, just look back to the 1979 and 1980 seasons," he said.

"With the benefit of hindsight, the NR500 was not the best bike they ever produced, but the lessons they learned from it helped so much later on.

"I don't think we're looking at anything as bad as that, but the situation has woken everybody up."