Franchise Notes: Honda Team Principal Threatens To Quit MotoGP Over Control ECUs

Honda Racing Corp. Team Principal Shuhei Nakamoto has warned that "Honda would almost certainly quit MotoGP if control ECUs were made mandatory." The series "mandated the use of spec ECUs and dataloggers from the start of next year's championship, although factory outfits have an opt-out clause." Discussions about "making control ECUs mandatory for every entrant" starting in '17 are ongoing, as "series rights holder Dorna seeks to reduce costs and make it easier for new manufacturers to enter the championship" (AUTOSPORT, 12/17). ... FC Barcelona spokesperson Toni Freixa said that the club is "willing to provide information about its signing of Neymar if National Court Judge Pablo Ruz requests the details of the signing." After a "board meeting on Monday," Freixa said that the club is "very calm" regarding a "transparent and legal effort to sign a player that many teams wanted" (EFE, 12/16).