until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez says the 2022 prototype Honda he’d trialled in Misano represents a major departure from the current iteration of the RC213V.
Marquez has had a mixed season following his return from the injury that derailed his 2020 title defense. He won at his traditional stronghold, the Sachsenring, but has struggled to run up front regularly.
And while the right-shoulder fitness limitations have been a big factor, Marquez has also made it clear that the level of the RC213V was not what he wanted it to be – something also evidenced by the fact none of the other Honda riders, all of whom are on factory-spec machinery this year, have graced the podium.
In the two-day Misano test that followed the San Marino Grand Prix, Marquez – alongside works team-mate Pol Espargaro and test rider Stefan Bradl – sampled the ’22 prototype in various configurations, comparing it to the current RC213V.
“It was a big difference, one of the biggest differences since I’ve been in Honda, and they’re working very hard,” Marquez said in the Thursday press conference ahead of the COTA round the following weekend.
“I think was very interesting – we improve our weak points, of course if you improve the weak points then arrive another problems but we already understand a bit – and me and Pol, the comments were very similar.
“Both of us with the new bike we were fast, so the first contact was nice, was good, but anyway we need to keep working, try to understand in other racetracks.”
Pressed further on the differences between the bikes by The Race, Marquez said: “Of course we are looking for a faster bike, smoother, more grip, more turning, but it’s true that our weak point this year is the a bit the rear grip, it’s where we focus more, and definitely we improve.
“But then we lose a bit the turning… but we understand that with a different concept of bike we can gain in many areas, but we can lose also in one of our strongest points now, that is the corner entry.
“Anyway, the balance, the laptime in the end was very similar, but it’s important when you receive new parts that from the start you’re already on the same pace that on the old one, without touching anything.”
Marquez said he was now keen to sample the bike “with less grip, because in the Misano test the grip was unbelievable, it was so easy to be fast”.
Before that, he and Honda will need to complete the tough 2021 campaign – and Marquez says the team has also taken away “some ideas” from Misano that could help end the season in the best way possible.
