Honda é a marca mais lembrada como fabricante de motos

A Honda está entre as marcas mais lembradas pelo público. A empresa conquistou o primeiro lugar na categoria “Motos” e ocupou o terceiro lugar entre as marcas internacionais mais lembradas pelos brasileiros, na pesquisa realizada pelo Datafolha, que resultou na 19ª edição do prêmio Top of Mind.

Na categoria Motos, que não fazia parte da pesquisa desde 2002, a Honda foi lembrada por 61% dos entrevistados.

A Honda também foi destaque em uma categoria inédita no prêmio Top of Mind, a Top Masculino. Nesta divisão foram analisados os assuntos mais abordados pelos homens, e, dentro deste tema, as marcas mais citadas por eles. A Honda, como fabricante de motocicletas, conquistou a 3ª posição no ranking geral.

Hamilton: Break wrong time for McLaren

Lewis Hamilton says Formula 1's summer break has come at the wrong time for the McLaren, just when the team needs to push ahead with the development of its MP4-25 to match the pace of the Red Bull and Ferrari.

With every team's factory closed during the summer break, there is little opportunity to improve the cars before the Spa in four weeks time. Hamilton, who retired with a gearbox problem in the Hungary, will have to wait another month before his team can attempt to close the gap.

"Of course [reliability] is a concern, but there's nothing I can do about it - so it's best just to focus on doing the best job I can with what I have," he said.

"There's nothing I can do, everything shuts down. They [Red Bull] are in a good position where they can go on holiday with a good car already, then they can come back and their car will be the same. Whereas we would of course love to improve our car over that period of the time, but we won't."

But Hamilton added that both McLarens have stayed in the title hunt so far this season without being able to challenge the Red Bull's outright speed.

"If they'd finished all the races where they've started them, they would be miles ahead, but they haven't," he said. "They've clearly had some reliability problems and some mistakes, and we've capitalised on it. We have to try to get as many points as we can and hope that some people have more than the reliability problems than we do."

He also played down the erruption of the row over flexi-wings in the last two grands prix: "I've seen the wings flex, but I don't know why it's an issue now - they've been doing it since China."

Ducati want Rossi but cool rumours

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has not agreed to the race for Ducati next season but the Italian team said they are still interested in signing him.

Media reports have been rife that Rossi would sign for the Ducati after Casey Stoner said last month he would be leaving for Honda next year.

Several reports have said an announcement on the Rossi's move from Yamaha would come at the Czech Grand Prix on August 15 but Ducati have cooled the rumours.

"No agreement has been reached with the riders Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden for the future MotoGP season although our interest in these riders remains," a Ducati statement said.

"Whether and when an agreement is reached, official press releases will be issued."

American Hayden already races for the team.

Rossi fractured his leg before the Italian Grand Prix in June but made a rapid recovery to race again after just a month and a half.

Nicknamed the Doctor, he is arguably Italy's biggest sports personality and a move to the top Italian team would be welcomed by millions of thrilled countrymen.

Yamaha have said they have made an offer to keep him but Rossi sparked rumours of a departure by entering the last year of his contract without a new deal.

He also said it was awkward being team mate with current championship leader Jorge Lorenzo given they were both so strong.

He has expressed an interest in a career in rallying once he is done with bikes but speculation of a move into Formula One has died down despite tests with Ferrari.