This off-season has once again demonstrated that Honda cannot get out of the technical rut into which the liveliness and ambition of Ducati, among others, have pushed it. An impotence which is not a question of means, but of time and possibilities to test. However, there is an opportunity in terms of concessions points. A boon only granted to the new manufacturer arriving in MotoGP. KTM and Aprilia have benefited from this to reach their current good level. Can Honda, the world's leading manufacturer with an impressive track record during the splendor of Marc Marquez, be legally considered a beginner manufacturer with limited means? A priori no and the subject has long been considered politically incorrect by Marc Marquez and at HRC. But now we're talking about it again in the RC213V clan...
The concession points of the regulation are a system put in place in 2016 and initially intended to help a manufacturer launch its MotoGP program. Ducati, Suzuki, KTM took advantage of it as Aprilia which was the last manufacturer to have to abandon them since its track record began to take shape. Because we logically lose the advantages when we start to get on the podium and win.
But when we no longer win, can we go back? A priori no. However, regarding Honda, the subject was launched two seasons ago. So Repsol official Pol Espargaro, who benefited from these arrangements during his period KTM commented at the time: “ at the moment I would not be ashamed to be able to benefit from the concessions, in fact it would be useful. It is true that Honda represents a house considered the elite of motorcycle sport, which invests a lot of money in the MotoGP project, but we must grow and improve » said the Spaniard who added: “ I started the season with only five days of testing, which is nothing and the bike is not up to standard. For 2022, the days allowed on the track will still be the same and this could penalize us again. As mentioned, if we have the concessions, we are welcome, there is no shame ».
Lucio Cecchinello: “ Honda is limited by current regulations in terms of development«
For him no, but for Marc Marquez, that was another story. “ I hope we don't get them, that would mean having made podiums and perhaps victories by the end of the year “, he explains. “ A benefit for the future would be nice, but I don't think we'll get thems”. Here we are in 2023, the day after a 2022 campaign without the slightest success for a factory Honda who finished last in the manufacturers' standings. And what is coming up for this vintage is hardly cause for enthusiasm for those who have RC213Vs in their box.
This is the case of Lucio Cecchinello boss of the LCR satellite team which indirectly relaunches the debate on speedweek by making this cold observation: “ our biggest problem remains the lack of traction. Unfortunately, of course, this includes acceleration. This is the area we worked on during the Sepang test. But we are a team, not a motorcycle designer. We can only use what is made available to us ».
From there, he blurted out: “ Honda is limited by current regulations in terms of development because there are fewer and fewer official MotoGP tests. If you don't have "concessions" and no updates are allowed during the season, catching up and developing becomes more difficult, it happens more slowly ". Then he finishes: “ but to a certain extent I agree with these regulations, because otherwise the costs would explode ».
The solution would therefore indeed be to classify Honda eligible for concession points... Which would mean more engines available, which can be developed and above all the possibility of doing private test days with the regular drivers. Dealer manufacturers also have the right to field six wildcards during a season, while others can only field three. But honor would certainly take a hit. That said, at the point where it is in 2023…
