The last German Grand Prix is perhaps the last straw for Honda, with this worst result ever recorded in a Grand Prix by the brand since 1982. No points were brought home by its four drivers including both officials ended up with burns due to a fairing unable to properly dissipate heat. A situation described as “unacceptable” by test driver Stefan Bradl who suffered from it. This edition of the Sachsenring has not gone unnoticed within an HRC which is preparing to roll heads according to an intimate of the world's leading manufacturer. Alas, it shouldn't be the good ones that we risk seeing rolling...
In this debacle, it is Alberto puig, team manager of the factory team in the colors of Repsol who is on the front line and he sees himself obliged to react. An uncomfortable situation on which the former member of LCR discussed, i.e. Oscar Haro. The communication took place during his last speech live on Nico Abad's Twitch channel. We find his words on Tutomotoriweb : " after this weekend's fiasco at Sachsenring, where after 40 years Honda has not been able to score points in MotoGP, I think they will eventually bring out the scythe at HRC and cut off some heads ».
Unfortunately, the action risks causing casualties for example... The simplest and most immediate solution is to change the composition of the pilots, but the crisis at Honda will not necessarily end. “ I think we all know what's wrong ", added Oscar Haro. " But I imagine that there will be a change of the three drivers except Marc Marquez ". A disavowal that will touch Taka Nakagami who will be replaced by Ai Ogura, Pol Espargaro who will return to KTM and Tech3, giving way to Joan Mir, and Alex Marquez who seems to be heading towards Ducati and who will give the keys to Alex Rins…
« If Honda wants to be ahead, they have to change, like in Formula 1, where almost everything is done in Europe«
The new recruits Alex Rins, Joan Mir et Ai Ogura will they be able to reverse the trend? According to the former manager of LCR, the answer is negative, because the real problem is not at the base, but at the top of the company pyramid. According to Oscar Haro, the racing department of Honda should be entirely transferred to Europe, to accelerate the evolution and arrival of new components: “ HRC doesn't have a pilot problem, but the other factories have taken three steps forward. The only one who knows how to ride this bike is Marc Marquez ».
To turn the tide, Oscar Haro has the solution: “ the mentality of a Japanese manufacturer is no longer enough, it is not a question of a longer, shorter or stiffer swingarm, everything requires a process of study, of a project, of engineers, of tests… I think they have to change, if they want to be in front, they have to change, like in Formula 1, where almost everything is done in Europe ».
An idea that seems to be explored Yamaha , however, culturally, this approach is not yet assimilated in Japan. But it is true that in Formula 1, between Red Bull and Honda, it works and the rumor of a big project Red Bull in MotoGP has been alive for some time now…
