Stefan Bradl may be Honda's official test rider in MotoGP, but he still happens to discover subtleties on the RC213V. And the one he noticed in his German Grand Prix made him so furious that he publicly exposed the incompetence of his employer. Apparently, the frustration of having been ridiculous in front of his audience prevailed over professional reserve. There will be sequels at Honda…
But actually, what is it about? Honda has the greatest difficulty living up to a reputation built throughout a beautiful history that Marc Marquez has apparently made us believe it is still relevant for too long. Because since he convalesced, everything has collapsed. And it's not with this German Grand Prix that the building will consolidate. On the contrary…
Generally placid, and diplomatic by professional conscience, Stefan bradl was all the more surprised by his spontaneous anger on his Sachsenring. His vehemence did not relate to a noble and complex part of his motorcycle such as the engine, level corrector or ailerons. But on the basic fairing incapable of evacuating the calories released by scorching ambient temperatures...
We read thus on Todocircuito : " this is unacceptable, Honda was not able to develop a fairing for these temperatures ". The HRC test driver started from 18th position on the starting grid, and from the second lap he realized that it would be a very long and complicated Sunday for him. He lost three positions at the start of the race, falling to 21st place, and from the seventh lap he moved to last place in the standings.
But the retirements that occurred in front of him and the crashes of drivers such as Joan mir ou Pecco Bagnaia allowed him to cross the finish line in 16e but always last position, being the only representative Honda to see the checkered flag after the fall of Takaaki Nakagami, abandonment by Alex Marquez due to a technical problem and the package Pol Espargaro suffering from severe chest pain.
Stefan Bradl: “ Honda was unable to develop a fairing that would allow riders to survive in this heat«
After finishing the race 22 seconds from second to last Remy gardner, Bradl openly criticized the setbacks of the Honda in hot conditions like those observed on Sunday in Germany, with a mercury exceeding 35°C. “ Pol Espargaró had to stop because of the blow to the chest and also because of the heat. I don't even know why I finished the race. I was more than 21 seconds from second to last. You feel stupid and stupid when you are in your Grand Prix from home in Germany. It was terrible », choked the German.
Bradl, visibly angry, sent a message loud and clear to Tokyo not to repeat a situation like the one that the HRC pilots had to endure in Saxony: “ Honda was unable to develop a fairing that would allow riders to survive in this heat ". He adds : " the message must reach them, it's not acceptable, it can't be like that. I've had other tough and hot races, but I don't even know how I managed to finish this one. ».
Asked about specific problems caused by heat, the pilot of 32 years commented: “ after following the group in the first turns I couldn't brake because the lever in my right hand was getting very hot and I couldn't control the bike, I burned my fingers there. With so many left curves, the right hand hardly gets any air, and that makes everything even more complicated. After ten turns, my right foot is burned ».
In the own words of Bradl, Honda « is impossible to fly in these temperature conditions ”, and he demands to “ find an urgent solution » for future meetings in which the mercury again records temperatures above 30º C. What consequence will this heatstroke have, figuratively speaking, in Honda ?
Results of the MotoGP German Grand Prix at Sachsenring:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
