Category Archives: MotoGP

Pagi-pagi abis sholat subuh liat hp Samsung istri nganggur….hmmm browsing ajah….
Eh g taunya nemu artikel yang amat sangat menarik di motomatters mengenai kisah perjalanan Masao Furusawa yang sempat ramai diberitakan diminta oleh Filipo Presiozi (bosnya Ducati Corse) untuk menolong  pengembangan Ducati GP12 supaya menjadi lebih baik. Dari interview dengan Akira Nishimura di rumah Masao Furusawa di Kyoto terungkap betapa putus asanya Ducati, sampai Filipo berujar bahwa dia tidak perduli kehilangan jabatannya yang penting Ducati bisa lebih baik!!!
Masao sampai takjub dan berkata dalam hati ‘Filipo you have a real samurai spirit!!’
Juga dijelaskan pertemuannya dengan Valentino Rossi dirumahnya di Tavuilla mengenai rencana kepindahannya ke Yamaha dan terakhir Masao pun masih merasa perlu minta ijin ke Yamaha untuk membantu Ducati, dan ditolak halusssss banget, yang akhirnya Masao pun berkata tidak pada Ducati.
Monggo dibaca mazbro wawancaranya, tapi mohon maaf masih dalam bahasa Inggris neh, karena keterbatasan waktu n keterbatasan kemampuan mentranslate walopun bisa memahami isinya, dan jam udah nunjukin 06.15 kudu siap2 mbejek gas berangkat kerja 🙂

The news that the former head of Yamaha’s
MotoGP program Masao Furusawa had visited Italy to talk to
Ducati Corse boss Filippo Preziosi spread like wildfire through
the racing world. After initial sightings in Italy of Furusawa,
rumors quickly began to spread that the legendary Japanese
engineer had been contacted by Ducati to help them fix their
troubled Desmosedici, in a bid to keep Valentino Rossi at the
factory. The rumors turned out to be true, and so veteran
Japanese journalist Akira Nishimura visited Furusawa at his
Kyoto home to ask him about the visit. Furusawa explained
how he visited Italy at Filippo Preziosi’s request, talked of his
motorcycle design philosophy, and explains why he decided
to turn down Ducati’s request for help. Furusawa goes on to
talk about visiting Valentino Rossi in Tavullia to discuss his
future, and gives his vision of Rossi’s chances at Yamaha.
The interview gives a fascinating insight into a key point in
motorcycle racing history. It highlights the lengths to which
Ducati is willing to go to change their fortunes, and it also
highlights interesting aspects of Japanese culture, and the
effect they can have on the direction of racing and the
individuals involved.
Akira Nishimura: First of all, how long did you go to Italy
for?
Masao Furusawa: Almost one week. I returned to Japan on
(July) 25th. When I arrived in Italy on the evening of the 19th,
I received an e-mail from Yamaha Motor Racing – they
seemed to find an article on newspaper about my trip –
asking me the purpose, so I replied them that ‘I will go
sightseeing tomorrow, then see Filippo Preziosi the following
day’. Valentino also called me on my cellphone and said he
needed to talk, so, I visited his home in Tavullia. I met with
Filippo twice and with Vale once during the trip.
Q: Let me clarify. Exactly, on which day did you meet with
each of them?
MF: I left Japan on 19th in the morning and arrived Italy in
the evening on the same day. Next day I went to sightseeing,
so…it was on the 21st that I met Filippo. The second meeting
was on the 23rd. We talked for 3 or 4 hours for each day. And
I visited Valentino on the 24th then left Italy on the 25th.
Q: Was the trip by invitation from Preziosi?
MF: Something like that. We have exchanged e-mail every
now and then. In his company, the situation seems to be
complicated because Audi joined the management while
Valentino looked very reluctant to remain in their team.
Filippo wanted to speak with me and said he would come to
Japan, however, I thought it requires him a lot of effort to
come down here between races. So, I replied to him that I
would go there.
Q: How long have they be asking you for help?
MF: Since the middle of the season last year. At first it was
just a kind of joke, but this time it looked very serious, with
them saying that ‘if possible, we would like you to help
Ducati.’
Q: Did you meet with Filippo Preziosi at their office?
MF: No. We met in his home because the rumor has already
spread and we wanted to avoid public attention. In his home,
I gave him a talk about very fundamental things, such as how
the motorcycle should be designed. He looked very impressed
and wanted me to lecture his colleagues about it. Two days
later, Filippo took his chassis engineer with him and we spoke
with once again in his home.
Q: It sounds like you had already reached an agreement
before the trip to discuss technical solutions for their bikes.
MF: The reason I moved to Kyoto after the retirement is to
spend a quiet life, however, some of my old friends asked me
to join their business and gradually I started to imagine that it
could be interesting to launch a small consulting company for
myself in a few years. Expected customers will be production
vehicles and airplane industries. When Filippo contacted me, I
joked to him that he could be my first client. Then he showed
great interest in it, so I told him if you pay my expenses I will
go there. For sure, I didn’t hesitate because I can go
sightseeing in Italy free of charge!
Q: Does that mean you are already involved in the
development and modification of their Desmosedici?
MF: No. I cannot disclose the information related to the
Yamaha, and we didn’t discuss anything in the details. I have
just explained them about my approach and the way of
thinking, especially what I had done in 2004. For example,
‘centroid triangle’ – which is a triangle made from front and
rear contact point with the ground and the center of the
gravity of the bike – shouldn’t be shaped like this or that
(gestures with his fingers to show the vertex goes too far to
the front or rear side). Or, when they refer to the suspension,
they always measure and express with the ‘stiffness’. But, my
approach is different. I would take a look at a ’frequency’ of
suspensions and try to make the front and rear frequencies
as close to the same as possible. It makes the weight-transfer
of the bike smoother. Although they are just generalities, I
could manage with our bikes in those scientific approaches.
What I explained to Filippo was those kinds of ideas of mine
and the way of thinking.
And I asked him why he had called me. If I joined them and
got good results, it would prove his previous developments
had been wrong. Or, if I joined them and couldn’t do any
good, it would also prove his decision was wrong. I asked him
‘Either way, it will be inevitable that you have to take
responsibility. How come you have to take such a big risk?’
Filippo immediately answered with composure. ‘It doesn’t
matter if I lose my position. I don’t care at all. All that I care
is one thing; to make our bike better.’ When I heard his
remarks I thought in my mind ‘Filippo, you have a real
Samurai spirit…’
Q: Anyway, it is very odd – especially in Japanese society – that
someone should help and give some ideas to his rival
companies.
MF: Basically, I am a retired and independent person. So,
there is no obstacle to help them. However, as you point out,
I understand that in Japanese society it would be
inappropriate to help your competitors. On the other hand, I
would have liked to lend a hand to Filippo as a friend because
he is an excellent engineer. Furthermore, if Valentino returns
to Yamaha next year, I thought that helping him the rest of
the season wouldn’t be a bad thing. Filippo showed me
various proposals to help them. I told him to answer within a
week and left Italy. As soon as returned to Japan, I went to
Iwata headquarters and explained to them about the
proposals from Filippo.
Q: How was their reaction?
MF: It was a typical Japanese one. They said ‘We cannot
prevent you from doing what you will, but we expect you will
do the right thing.’ It does not make sense to create friction
between them, so I said ‘’OK, let’s forget it.’
Q: So, you won’t help them after the summer break?
MF: No. In conclusion, I will not help Ducati.
Q: You also visited Tavullia on 24th. What did you speak with
Valentino?
MF: When I went to Italy, Valentino had already made up his
mind 99% to leave the team. But magazines and newspapers
were saying that I would join Ducati. He said to me that if it is
true and this missing-in-crossing happens, it would be
embarrassing.
Q: After all, he wanted to know your real intentions of the
trip?
MF: I think so. During my stay in Italy, he called to my cell
phone every day. We decided it would be better to see face-
to-face, then he invited me to his home in Tavullia. After
explaining my purpose of the trip, I told him that when I
return to Japan I would ask Yamaha headquarters
immediately if I could help Ducati then I would let him know
the conclusion. The next day of the meeting in Iwata, I sent
him an e-mail to tell him I cannot help them.
Q: Did you think to persuade him to go back to Yamaha
during your visit?
MF: No. I didn’t have to.
Q: Now he comes back to Yamaha next year. Is there any
possibility that you help him as a consulting company?
MF: It is very unlikely. Because I believe the Yamaha has
enough potential to win for next two years. After that – I
mean, in 2015 or later – , I may possibly be able to do some
consulting, however, Valentino will already have retired from
MotoGP by then. This consulting company will be specialized
in vehicle dynamics and creating solutions for noise and
vibration, that is to say, it is an activity for both pleasure and
profit to fulfill my retirement life. That is the reason why I
don’t want to get involved in the MotoGP paddock. And as I
told you, I have moved to Kyoto to enjoy my retirement life. I
hope I won’t be back there!
Q: From your point of view, how competitive will he be next
year?
MF: Well…there will be various opinions, but personally I
believe he still has very high potential. However, Jorge
became more consistent and faster than ever. It is not easy to
beat him even for Valentino. Should be a good fight between
them. Let’s see.
Q: There used to be quite a lot of tension in the Yamaha
garage from 2008 to 2010 because of the rivalry between Jorge
and Valentino. How will it be next year?
MF: I presume the tension between them will rise again. I
wouldn’t be surprised if Valentino thinks to beat Jorge before
his retirement. He is such a determined rider. I feel sorry for
the boys in their garage because they have stomach ache
once again!
Apart from that, I think YZR-M1 could be more stable. This
competitive bike had been developed with the help of
Valentino by taking a lot of time. With his coming back to
Yamaha, a course of its development will be even clearer.