Honda presented the new MotoGP 2022 prototype designed from a blank sheet of paper, with a new engine and a completely different concept from the RC213V that had caused so many problems for the brand’s riders in the last two years.
Marc Márquez’s first impact with the bike in Malaysia left the Spanish champion somewhat unsettled, who even admitted that he was going to have to change his way of riding if he was not able to take the bike to his terrain.
After three days of testing on the Island of Lombok , in Indonesia, Márquez ended by announcing that the new RC213V is ready to be piloted the way he likes it.
“I’m happy with how the preseason has ended, logically you always want more, but in summary I’m satisfied”, explained Marc at the end of the day, in which he closed 74 laps at the short Mandalika track, with a best time of 1.31.793, 0.733 off the best time of the day and of the entire test, set by his teammate, Pol Espargaró.
“Satisfied above all here in Mandalika , because we have achieved a very big change in terms of sensations comparing what I found in Malaysia to how I ended up driving here,” he explained.
“I already said that my intention in this test was to bring the bike to my field. There is a new bike at Honda, with a very big change that I didn’t quite like from the start for my riding,” he admitted.
“But that’s what it’s all about, the bike had potential, on one lap I could go fast but at the pace level it was difficult for me. In Mandalika what I’ve done has been to bring the bike to my field, lose maybe in the fastest lap, but having it ready for a good rhythm, to feel the front end, to feel the rear end and I think we have achieved it. We have made quite a few changes at the setting level and the times were coming, we have also made many aerodynamic changes and the times were also coming, it means that the potential is there, so I am leaving these three days of testing quite satisfied”, was the assessment of the Catalan who, however, noted the physical effort. “Enjoying has been the way to survive today, because my shoulder hurt.”
With the preseason exhausted, the next appointment is the start of the World Championship with the Qatar Grand Prix, on March 6.
“The next time we get on the bike, we’re going to see a Grand Prix and that’s big words, but in general the sensations on the bike have changed a lot from how we started and how we finished the preseason, logically for the better” .
“I know I don’t get to the first race one hundred percent as I would like, but now I have two weeks at home, where I have to take care of my shoulder and my physique, and train. Let’s see in Qatar what we can do, today I did a run of ten laps and I have felt good, little by little we continue with our progression and that is the most important thing”, he pointed out.
Some sensations and a rhythm that according to Marc right now would not be enough to think about winning the Losail race.
“I’m 14 (laughs), initially I didn’t like this bike at the pace level, but now the sensations are good,” he settled in reference to the test time sheet.
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