Honda vow to improve communication

Honda have endured a disappointing start to the 2007 season, with both the works Repsol team and the satellite squads lacking pace.

None of the Honda riders have won a race so far this year, and world champion Nicky Hayden has hinted that development work was happening at a slower rate than in past seasons.

"We are going to have to work harder together, not just HRC, but with the satellite teams too," Hamane said.

"We need to improve the good communication between the teams.

"We have to listen what the riders are asking and we have to answer them as fast as possible."

The satellite Gresini team have been particularly vocal in their calls for more Honda support in the first half of 2007, but rider Marco Melandri thanked the manufacturer after an updated exhaust helped him to qualify a season-best third in Germany.

Hayden was hamstrung by a development bike and a clutch that he struggled with throughout his title-winning season in 2006, and inferred that updates were progressing more slowly this season.

"Definitely in the past parts would come faster," Hayden said.

"Now when I have asked for stuff, things seem to be slow.

"Even with the engine problem (in Friday practice), that's not the first engine failure so it's taken a little while to sort out a few problems."

But Hayden said he did not blame Honda for being caught out by Ducati's strong start to 2007.

"You look at the speed difference between the Ducati this year (with the 800cc engines) and last year (with 990cc) and it's not that big a deal," Hayden said.

"I think Honda admit that they didn't expect it to be so fast. Anybody who did is crazy."

Hayden said that he had only exchanged greetings with the HRC president so far and had not been given the schedule of updates that are due to appear after the summer break at the Czech Republic Grand Prix.