Former LCR Honda manager Oscar Haro predicts a complicated 2023 MotoGP season for HRC. Attention can already turn to 2024.
Oscar Haro, former sporting director of the LCR Honda team, left the MotoGP paddock at the end of the 2021 championship. A great connoisseur of the HRC environment and life inside the box, he predicted last year that many heads would roll among the upper management and he had seen it right. Last place in the manufacturers' ranking is not acceptable for a motorized two-wheeler giant like Honda and the situation does not seem to be able to be resolved in the short term. In an interview on Nico Abad's YouTube channel, the former manager foresees a complicated start to the season for Marc Marquez and his distinguished companions.
After commenting on the operation ofAleix Espargaro, the current situation ofAprilia and the strength of Ducati in 2023, Oscar Haro also spoke about Honda and Marc Marquez. " From what I know about Honda, from the first test until they have a good bike, two months will pass ". The date of a possible turning point could therefore be that of the MotoGP test in Jerez on May 1, when a new chassis for the RC213V should arrive from Kalex. The conditional is essential, because we always have to deal with the progress of the competition and the effective resolution of problems at the HRC. The arrival of Ken Kawauchi does not seem to be a panacea. “ Honda's problem is very serious, because they have a motorcycle that doesn't work and they left the development to a new technical manager who comes from a totally different bike ».
"Even injured or with a bike that doesn't work at all, Marc Marquez is the only one who can get Honda back on its feet"
Considering the long development times, the engineers of the winged coat of arms are already thinking about the bike for the 2024 MotoGP season. Honda's job at the moment is not easy ». Kawauchi worked extensively on a very different prototype with an inline 4-cylinder engine. “ You first need your technical manager to understand the engine, as it has many differences. I think things mainly concern the 2024 bike, which we are working on more than this year's. What will they do on the 2023 bike? Well, what they won't do, Marc Marquez will do ". According to Oscar Haro, the Cervera champion will have to rely solely on his talent, while waiting for the evolution of the bike which will only arrive towards the middle of the championship if not next winter.
The former LCR sporting director insists on the importance of Marc for the Honda MotoGP project. “ Marc Marquez is the only one who can give them a comeback. Even injured or with a bike that doesn't work at all, he's the only one who can get Honda back on its feet ». Joan mir et alex rins will certainly be a big help in improving the RC213V, but for 2023 everything is in Marc's hands. “ We'll see it in 10 days when Marquez lowers his visor, because he is very strong now. Marquez is physically and mentally very strong ».
