I just posted on the blog that we’d started assembling the Le Mans engine, and then a staff member reported that we’ve got a problem.

Can you tell from the photo?
It’s a scratch you can feel with your fingertip.

This crank can’t be used.

We checked stock and placed an order immediately.
It’s due to arrive on Tuesday.

But we can’t wait that long.

So we decided to tear down another brand-new engine and pull the crankshaft out of it.
We also found a mark on the bearing metal, so it was probably already there when Honda assembled the engine.

Be careful—this is NOT me saying there’s a problem with mass-production bikes!!
We’re dealing with this because we’re doing everything we possibly can for the 5,000 km of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

So in that sense, we’re lucky.
The food’s going to taste great tonight.