Surprisingly, Honda didn't win a single roadracing championship in the AMA comptition in 2001, and it's been since 1998 since Big Red took the Superbike title in the US. To reverse their fortunes, Honda is planning an all-out assault to win the premier class in 2002.

Team manager Chuck Miller is the man who oversees all of Honda's US factory motorcycle racing programs and he spent his first year in charge making observations about how he thought things should. Nicky Hayden won the final three Superbike events of the year, but none of Honda's three RC51 riders -- Hayden, Miguel DuHamel and Kurtis Roberts -- were much of a factor in the championship.

"We've been working to put all the pieces in place to get back on top," Miller says. Those pieces make Honda's AMA Superbike team look more like a World Superbike or Grand Prix team.

Whereas the Supercross team also under Chuck's oversight signed Ricky Carmichael to upgrade their rider talent, the former desert racer Miller felt like Hayden, DuHamel, and Roberts were the men for the job but needed increased technical assistance.

Changes for 2002 include extra mechanics on each Superbike (for a total of three men). Mr. Oshikuri, a full-time technician from HRC in Japan, will remain with team in the US all season. The team's dedicated computer technician, Darren Marshall, will have some new responsibilities. Al Ludington has been re-hired to work with Miguel DuHamel. Danny Hull, after a successful year at Kawasaki working with Eric Bostrom, returns to Kurtis Roberts's crew. And no Supersport duty this year for the riders, apart from Daytona.

Does that increase the expectations placed on Nicky Hayden, Miguel DuHamel and Kurtis Roberts. "Expectations? No, but does the level of probability go up (that Honda win the Championship)? Yes," Miller says.

Honda intends to avoid spending the season playing catch-up like in 2001.

"Our bike improved tremendously from the beginning of the year to the end of the year last season, but for this year we have to improve things more quickly if we are going to win the championship," Miller says. "Just as an example, we have a 2002 RC51 here for the December tire test and we've never had anything like that before."

Miller has planned for the off-season to include an extensive testing program intended to shorten the learning curve. And in late January or early February, select mechanics will go to Japan to prepare the 2002 RC51s for Daytona.

With three riders on the team, Miller wants a high level of "synergy" taking place with all three prongs of the team sharing information through crewchief Ray Plumb. "Egos can get in the way," laughs Miller, "but I am pleased with how the team is working so far."

Miller credits Honda's corporate management structure for getting the extra pieces in place. While the team has definitely increased the budget, it isn't a frivolous spend-a-thon. "We question every dime we spend so it will have an impact on the championship," Miller says. "We're very conscientious about giving the riders the support they need."