Honda's new RC213V chassis could be worth "three-four tenths" in MotoGP laptime, according to tester Aleix Espargaro - who insisted on the factory riders riding it as soon as possible.
The factory duo of Luca Marini and Joan Mir have improved as of late, both roundly overshadowing LCR Honda's Johann Zarco last time out in Hungary - where both had the upgraded chassis at their disposal.
The full benefits of the new component are still to be fully explored on a more familiar circuit rather than a brand new track - but Espargaro, who first trialled it at the Catalan Grand Prix venue in private testing, says he’s expecting to see its full potential revealed.
"One month ago I arrived here and one of the items for testing was a new chassis,” he explained to the media.
“I tested it and I couldn't believe the difference, it was amazing. I did many back-to-backs and I said to the engineers, 'it's not possible, this chassis is next-level'. So when I finished the test, I said to [technical boss] Romano [Albesiano] 'you have to bring the chassis to Joan and Luca'.
“He said 'nah, but they will not test during a grand prix'. I said 'yeah, yeah, they will, I will text them and I will say that they have to'. And I texted both of them and I said 'you guys need to test this chassis, it's really a big step, I didn't expect to improve that much here in Barcelona'.
“And they tested it, and both Luca and Joan like it so much.
"Obviously, I agree with Luca that the last circuits [Red Bull Ring and Balaton] were quite strange.
“But I tested in Barcelona and the chassis was three-four tenths faster. So, yeah, Honda is working hard and I'm happy to see the progress and we'll see this weekend."
However, while Espargaro might be convinced that the new package is without doubt the way forward, the race team still needs some work to be fully confident, especially after the experiences of a difficult weekend in Hungary last time out.
Mir, who ran both the old and the new frames at Balaton, says he’s not yet convinced, especially under braking, an area where he’s consistently asked for more from Honda.
“In Hungary it was not like that,” he said of Espargaro’s claims. “I tried both, and I know well, but it’s true that in this track, for the character of the chassis you get more natural turning with it. In the past races, Austria and Hungary, there is more braking, and for sure it’s not better.
“I will have my base [in one bike], and the new package [in another] to reconfirm that it is better. It’s true that it’s a small step [forward] - but when I tried it in Hungary it wasn’t anything crazy.
“We have to continue working on it to see the real potential of it. For sure we will continue working. I don’t know the plan, but maybe it’ll be the first run on the base, the second to dial the electronics, and then maybe the third on it [the new chassis]."
