At the end of the three days of testing in Sepang, the Spanish rider obtained the tenth fastest time, the first bike other than a Ducati or Aprilia: “Honda did a great job, I started with four bikes and finished with one but… it’s not from title”
February 12, 2023
Almost like a mantra Marc Marquez once again today, at the end of the Sepang tests, he repeated: “I am happier of mine physicist that of moto”. The No. 93 is tenth in the combined timesheets.
Another aspect he underlined is that he did almost the test driver these days, complying with the requests of the new technical director Ken Kawauchi: “Today I did even two laps with the bike without any aerodynamic appendage. As I explained yesterday, the new HRC technician (Ken Kawauchi, ex Suzuki, NDA) wants to understand everything about the concept of this bike and wants to try every solution. This makes the pilot’s life rather complicatedabove all mybecause since I’m the one who has the most experience with Honda, I have to do some tests. I don’t ask whyI just do them.”
What is it like to ride the motorcycle without wings?
“It’s difficult to ride the bike without wings, it becomes very physical, it moves all over the place”
Then a positive reflection on Honda’s work…
“I must say that Honda has organized the work of these days in an excellent way: we started with four bikes, yesterday we had three, today two and I even finished with one. The last two give similar results, but the one I chose feels more potential, more suited to my riding style. But this is not the bike to aim for the title.”
However, something positive has emerged…
“Here, however, it was important to choose a direction: I must say that the bike is very similar to the one in Valencia, the problems are more or less the same. I give my comments, but I try not to influence the engineers’ judgment: they will have to analyze all the data and come to their conclusions. We need more, but it’s fair to point out that there has been a reaction. The top speed isn’t bad, but they get there later than the others.”
Other points to improve…
“We have to improve in high-speed braking, such as in turn 1 for example: there we lose a lot to the Ducati, which is the benchmark in braking, a little less than the others”
Then an evaluation from the point of view of sensations…
“I’m realistic and for this reason it’s easier to control my emotions (apparently Marc is serene, but it’s clear he’s not happy at all, NDA), I haven’t even tried the “time attack” that the others have done. I ask for more. we need to improve: I’m much happier with my body than with the bike” (a phrase, the latter, which Marc now repeats almost constantly. He always gives us the title, but it’s clear that Honda is still a long way off, NDA)
