Marc Marquez is convalescing and will be for a long time while Taka Nakagami's accident in Catalonia gave members of the Honda staff chills. Already for the severity of the shock received by his pilot, but also when the idea of a potential injury crossed his mind. In this case, HRC would have noticed that it was running out of drivers to put on its RC213V. However, there are two young people entered in WSBK who know the Grands Prix well, one of whom even rode in MotoGP. But the Japanese brand promises to leave its new recruits Iker Lecuona and Xavi Virgo on the CBR triple R. For the moment?
Life remains complicated for Honda in MotoGP who must think about the development of an RC213V while being deprived of its flagship rider Marc Marquez. An absence which was already borne last year which gave the current opus in Grand Prix with the dissatisfaction that we know. We must therefore review our copy, and always without the key ideas of its great champion. But the worst has perhaps not yet happened for the winged coat of arms which mobilized its pilot Stefan bradl while waiting for the return, promised to be distant, of Marc Marquez. Indeed, if one of its regular drivers were to get injured, or even several of them, the world's leading manufacturer would be short of personnel to be adequately represented in the competition...
If this catastrophe happened, and we would have to wait on this subject for the medical examination of aptitude of Taka Nakagami on the eve of the next German Grand Prix to rule it out, what could be done Honda ? We spontaneously thought of transferring one of the two drivers currently mobilized in WSBK. One of which, Iker Lecuona, did two full seasons in MotoGP on a KTM. Xavi Virgo, for his part, was a Moto2 specialist.
Yes, but no… Before the game of Misano this weekend, the general director of the HRC indeed praises the CBR triple R project in WSBK. One of the biggest stories this year was the milestone achieved by Team HRC. The official team Honda already stood on the podium in Race 2 at Assen and was regularly in the Top 5, despite the arrival of new drivers Iker Lecuona et Xavi Virgo. The latter being furthermore far from having been in peak physical condition during the first two rounds.
Honda on Iker Lecuona and Xavi Virgo: “honestly, they do better than expected"
Team HRC has never finished a race outside the Top 10 and in the last six races, they have always been among the top six, including five Top 5s. In the standings, lecuona is only eight points behind Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK), fourth, and 16 behind the factory Ducati of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). Virgin was injured in the first two rounds, but he still remained in the Top 10. For the first time in his career, he placed in the Top 5 in Race 1 at Estoril, beating his teammate at the end of a duel in the last lap. Virgin is eighth overall, just six points behind Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK).
Tetsuhiro Kuwata, general director of HRC, welcomed these results, even explaining the role of the two young Spaniards in the internal dynamics of the group: “ Since winter testing we have had two new riders and we expected them to need some time to adapt to the machines and to the Championship. But, until now, They are doing very well, and the results are beyond my expectations. In addition, their attitude is quite new, because they are from the new generation, which creates a very good atmosphere in the team. We are very happy and we try to cooperate as much as possible while trying to achieve our goal ».
Kuwata concluded by emphasizing that his objective and that of the HRC was to take another step and why not think of victory: “ honestly, they do better than expected; I expected them to have a little trouble managing the weekend. They are doing very well, but I also hope that they can take another step in the near future. Every round we try to improve but our goal is always to win. We will try to achieve this result as soon as possible, but we will certainly need time. I would like to make it this season ». Iker Lecuona et Xavi Virgo should therefore not be exfiltrated towards MotoGP as they have convinced Honda of their usefulness to the WSBK project.
