Honda is stepping on the accelerator in its attempt to find solutions to the operation of the RC213V 2022, the motorcycle that is causing so many headaches in the brand’s riders, and with a view to the test that is held this Monday in Barcelona, the factory has sent “many new parts”, which will be mounted on the prototypes of the two available drivers, Alex Márquez and also Pol Espargaró.
Two weeks ago, at Mugello, Honda sent a new chassis and swingarm for Marc Márquez’s bike, who announced that he was going to undergo surgery precisely during that same weekend. HRC decided that these parts would go to Takaaki Nakagami’s bike after Marc was out, and after the Japanese’s injury, Lucio Cecchinello told Motorsport.com that this material was going to be fitted to Alex Márquez’s bike.
Initially, Honda skipped Pol Espargaró in the line of succession for the new parts, which was interpreted as a loss of confidence. Even Cecchinello even insinuated that the pieces were given to Nakagami for being a ‘Honda man’, with whom the secrets of the house were in good hands given that only Marc Márquez has a contract for next year.
However, a Honda team member confirmed to Motorsport.com that the factory had shipped “a lot of new parts” to be tested by the two drivers during Monday’s session, including the matching chassis and swingarm that it sent to Mugello for Marc, and that in fact Pol Espargaró has already been able to prove.
In this way, it seems that the objections of the Japanese engineers to Espargaró, who may not continue with the team next season, having new material, has diminished, especially in the absence of Nakagami and Marc Márquez due to injury.
