Honda finds itself dependent on Marc Marquez: the evolution of the 2023 MotoGP prototype depends on his decisions.
About Luigi Ciamburro de Motoracing
The Repsol Honda team awaits the return of Marc Marquez to try to get out of the crisis into which it fell after last winter. Not that the results were much better over the two-year period 2020-2021, but the RC213V was still a bike capable of podium aspirations. Instead, after P3 of Pol Espargaro at Losail, there were ten GPs in which the Tokyo bike always remained detached from the leading group. The presence of champion Cervera is certainly essential for the HRC engineers, which is why they hope to have him in the pits at least for a test by the end of the championship.
Imagine Marc Marquez in action during Misano tests in September seems premature, but he will have plenty of time to recover until the final MotoGP tests in November. Having started rehabilitation a few weeks ago, doctors will have to monitor the consolidation of the bone, avoid possible infections, and avoid physical stress until the decisive moment. » If he could test the bike in the fall or by the end of the year, it would be the best thing for our engineers to understand in which direction we should go “, explained the team manager Alberto puig.
The optimism of the nine-time world champion and the absence of pain give Honda and the pilot reasons to believe in a return by the end of the year. And, above all, rapid and optimal recovery. “ I don't have a crystal ball. Hopefully everything goes well this time. Everything looks good and it feels good » added the Catalan manager. “ The doctors are happy and each day that passes is more positive. Now it's about bone healing and then we'll wait and see ».
« Of course, Marc Marquez is worried. We are all worried«
The top priority is the physical condition of Marc Marquez, but without forgetting that the future of the team and the 2023 prototype will depend on his indications. Honda understood that as long as Marc Marquez will be in the team, he will have to move in his direction. A risky but winning philosophy, as demonstrated in the period from 2013 until the day of the terrible injury in Jerez in 2020.
The first step will be to have the champion in the pits during the summer, so that he can follow the work carried out by the technicians in the last weeks. “ Of course he is worried. We are all worried », added the team manager. After the wet Mandalika race, everything went wrong at HRC, “ no one is happy with the situation ».
The problems have been identified, but the solution takes time, as also anticipated by the test pilot Stefan bradl, who over the last three years has collected more than twenty appearances in the MotoGP championship, including wild cards and replacements. Already in August, Pol Espargaro and the Japanese brand's other racers will have chassis updates available, but the Granollers flag-bearer, which is about to move to KTM, have other news during the year. » Most important - concluded Puig - is to improve our motorcycle and return to the normal level to which Honda has accustomed us "
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