Honda take on Melotte
By TMX Archives on 13th Nov 08
TWO-times a GP winner, Cedric Melotte completes the Honda factory line-up for next season. Melotte, the 30-year-old who has been struggling manfully on the out-classed Aprilia twin for the past two years, will be back in the hunt for World MX1 honours next year after signing last week to race in 2009 for the British CAS Honda team. After seeing him ride the Honda, I am convinced that Cedric can get back to where he was three years ago, declared an enthusiastic CAS Honda team-owner, Harry Ainsworth.
GP winners don't forget how to ride, and Cedric has been three seconds a lap faster on the Honda at all of his practice tracks than he had been on the Aprilia. That sort of improvement over his qualifying times this year will put him in the top six and I am confident that he can achieve that.
I have always been impressed by Cedric and even tried to sign him three years ago. Now he is with us and I look forward to a successful partnership.
Melotte, who was a former German 125cc champion in his youth, first really hit the headlines in 2003 when he defeated the factory KTMs of Joel Smets and Garcia Vico to take a privately-entered Honda to victory at the infamous Citadel track overlooking the Wallonian capital of Namur a victory which was made all the sweeter as he was born within a stone's throw of the circuit.
Earning a factory ride with Rinaldi Yamaha alongside Stefan Everts the following year, he matched the record champ during the early stages of the 2004 season, posting a second career GP victory before niggling injuries held him back.
FOR FULL STORY SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2008