It already seems to be said that this year 2020 will be a dark year for Honda. The Tokyo firm has so exploited its Marc Marquez monoculture that in his absence, it reveals an arid plain hostile to the harvest of the slightest point. The position of its official machines in Repsol colors is each time a subject of astonishment and a statement of desolation. Misano was no exception to the rule, with, in addition, the loss of Cal Crutchlow poorly recovered from forearm surgery. Fortunately, to save honor instead of appearances, there is Takaaki Nakagami…
Takaaki Nakagami certainly did not expect this scenario when, belatedly, this season of the world after was launched. And yet, it is he who holds the entire Honda house in MotoGP on his frail shoulders. Because Marc Marquez is offside due to injury while his teammate Cal Crutchlow is only a shadow of itself, with technical problems to which are added physical problems.
A situation all the more surprising since the Japanese is riding with the 2019 version of the RC213V. Honda can therefore also worry about the next seasons… “ We will only know the potential of the 2020 Honda when Marc Marquez is back and fully fit ", HRC test pilot said on Friday Stefan bradl. Needless to say, it won't happen tomorrow...
The podium is targeted this Sunday
In Misano, last weekend, Cal Crutchlow was absent from the race due to injury, and so Alex Marquez which Bradl clearly missed the points by finishing 17th and 18th. It is still Takaaki Nakagami which gave Honda the best result. LCR Honda Team's Japanese Idemitsu saw the checkered flag in eighth place, but was then demoted one place by the FIM MotoGP Stewards' jury because he had exceeded the track limits in the last round.
Nakagami still remained positive, because he had started from a more distant 14rd position. However, he didn't understand why he hadn't found the pace he had during the morning warm-up:
« If you start from 14th place on the grid, it's not good for the race ", commented Nakagami. " But we improved considerably and I was able to set consistent lap times. Now we have to find out why I was able to run 1'32 min during the warm-up, but only 1'33,1 min in the race. I am sure we can fight for a podium again at the next race in Misano. We are working hard to finally reach this first podium” concludes the Japanese who will once again be alone in the LCR box this weekend for the second round in Misano…
