The manufacturer Honda, like its compatriot Yamaha, has therefore been given, with the adoption of new concession points in the regulations, greater room for maneuver in terms of developing their MotoGP project. This is in order to catch up with the now significant gap with European competition. An opportunity certainly, but we still need to be able to seize it. A question of will and means which remains to be resolved, if we judge by Alberto Puig's interpretation of this new situation.
It will be recalled that with the new set of measures initiated by Dorna and unanimously dubbed by the five manufacturers entered in MotoGP, Honda et Yamaha will have 260 tires for their testing days. They will be able to do private tests with any of their drivers with the freedom to choose the circuits. Six Wildcards were distributed to them, 9 or 10 Engines are now allocated per driver per season, with in-year development possible. Finally, two people Aerodynamic updates are granted.
This is therefore a real opportunity to start catching up, which Alberto puig, from Honda, does not disagree: “ concession points will help us reduce the gap more quickly, they are made for that, to try to operate the factories behind » he comments on DAZN taken up by Todocircuito. But he immediately specifies that the hardest part remains to be done… “ It won't be automatic, it's not about having dealerships and running your bike, but obviously to shorten the period of development of the motorcycle, and time is what we really lack ».
Alberto Puig: “ there are a lot of races and you have to be careful »
In the provisions granted, we note that the titular drivers will be able to be mobilized to their satisfaction during possibly more numerous tests and on any route. An opportunity which could be validated from the start of the MotoGP which will take place during the Sepang Shakedown from February 1 to 3, 2024. In this perspective, Alberto puig reacts, thus showing that it is also necessary to have the capacity to take advantage of these new concession points…” This remains to be seen » he warns about the use of Joan mir and Luca marini on these occasions.
And he recalls: “ we cannot only use official drivers because there are a lot of races and you have to be careful. The shakedown is one thing. But five or six days of testing at Sepang would end up destroy them ". Then he ends with this new situation in terms of pace of development: “ it must be analyzed, but all this is an important help and we will try to take advantage of it ". So, for the moment, nothing concrete has been put in place at Honda to exploit the situation.
