The situation at Honda in this mid-MotoGP season is unprecedented and not only from the point of view of results. We know from the Sachsenring that a milestone has been reached in the decadence of the great HRC house, to which the German Grand Prix reminded us of the distant days of lean cows, with an overall result never as depressing as since 1982. But there is also a political and economic problem which is starting to reveal itself, and first of all with this fact: apart from Marc Marquez who has a contract until 2024, all his other drivers are leaving. And no news has been announced yet…
What is still happening at Honda ? Attention is focused on the new failure of an RC213V and the work undertaken to revise its copy. But when the season resumes at Silverstone, the situation in terms of driver numbers will be unprecedented: Marc Marquez will still be recovering and Stefan Bradl in the oven and at the mill, being both tester and replacement for the first mentioned. But above all he will be the only pilot assured of his official and still valid future.
Because for the other three, their heads are elsewhere. Alex Marquez has already signed for Ducati Gresini. KTM does not hide that we are preparing the return of Pol Espargaro. As for Taka Nakagami, he knows that Ai Ogura is more than a threat to his position. I have to say that Honda showed enough patience with his compatriot: Stefan bradl was hired for three years in 2012 and then fired because he couldn't make the podium in the third year. Jack Miller also had to leave HRC after three years, although he won one race.
Meanwhile, alex rins awaits the formalization of what he proclaims from the rooftops, namely his arrival at LCR. And above all, we seem to be procrastinating on the case of Joan Mir as a teammate of Marc Marquez. The manager of the 2020 World Champion who must find a home because Suzuki leaves the stage and is even annoyed by this situation, announcing that if nothing moves further than that, its pilot will stay at home in 2023.
Stefan Bradl is currently the only valid driver guaranteed to stay at Honda
All this means that, potentially, when the championship resumes at Silverstone, the most successful brand in the recent history of motorcycle racing will only have one valid rider with a assured future within its walls: Stefan Bradl. Another historical fact to bring to the attention of the HRC which is experiencing troubled times, but which perhaps already knows something that we are beginning to fear: the withdrawal of Repsol.
Respol et Honda, it's an epic of more than thirty years, but the Spanish brand has already split of a ticket in which she questioned the evolution of the category and which exuded doubt as to the continuity of the investment. If Repsol stopped the costs, it would be a bolt from the blue for Honda but also for a paddock which is just recovering from the surprise defection of Suzuki… A firm which, by very officially confirming its departure from MotoGP no longer prevents Honda to make its announcement of recruitment of the two future ex-pilots of the Hamamatsu firm. She would be welcome and doing it quickly would reassure everyone…
