After the first two Grands Prix of this 2021 MotoGP season which took place in Qatar, Honda appears in the provisional general classification of manufacturers as the last classified. Tied on points with KTM, certainly, but behind the Austrian firm with 11 points while Aprilia, with its new RS-GP, the only Aleix Espargaró and the only motorcycle entered has three more. A situation reminiscent of that of 2020 and when a new recruit of the quality of Pol Espargaró joined the ranks of the HRC. A situation that the former driver of the Tokyo firm Jorge Lorenzo explains in his always particular way…
Honda came out of the 2020 season damaged by the prolonged package of his hero Marc Marquez. The brand has attempted corrective actions by evolving its RC213V to make it more user-friendly and accessible, thus recognizing its exclusivity dedicated to the one who brought it six world titles MotoGP. A reality justified by the excellent results recorded, and yet long denied.
Changes that have started to be felt on the track, even if the start of this season does not show it so blatantly in terms of raw results. But these must be reduced to the gaps recorded with the winners. And the latter are historically so weak that we cannot define the Honda like a bad motorcycle.
But he still sorely misses his hero Marc Marquez. A void that Jorge Lorenzo defines as follows: “ for me, Honda without Marc is like Barcelona without Messi. In football, there are 10 more players. On the motorcycle, one. SO this lack of Marc for Honda is much more important than a supposed lack of Messi for Barcelona. They have Pol, who surprised in the Qatar tests, it seems he has adapted very well to the bike, and Bradl, who has a lot of experience and kilometers with the bike. By the end of 2020, they seemed to have improved the bike, and the results of Nakagami and Álex Márquez started to improve. It's a good sign ».
Honda needs the boss
Sure, but Marc Marquez missing again and again. His return is expected. Hoped to Portimao, from April 16. Everything will depend on a medical examination which will take place on 12th April. What is worrying is that on his social networks, Marc Marquez no longer shows up to ride motorcycles. Dorna's boss, Carmelo Ezpeleta, says the Spaniard will only return with the certainty that he can win again. A challenge in the MotoGP afterwards, with riders who gained confidence by winning while the new generation is already asserting itself.
Finally, what Honda is likely to find Marc Marquez after such a long absence? She continued to grow without him. Lucio Cecchinello assures that the motorcycle has only evolved marginally and that Marc Marquez will quickly take things in hand, and, even, with his elbow, thus saving the untimely loss of grip from the front... A subject that is close to his heart since we will remember that his drivers fell three times in two Grand Prix. Two of which are the fact ofAlex Marquez.
