Santi Hernández is the most prominent chief mechanic in the MotoGP paddock. And for good reason: he is alongside the essential driver in the category, Marc Márquez. The duo is now preparing for a July 19 deadline in Jerez which will mark the start of the 2020 season, if the authorities definitively grant their clearance. Everything should have been launched since March. Then the coronavirus imposed itself on the world with the consequences that we know. A new situation which the pilot took advantage of to regain his health and Honda to review his bike. Santi Hernández recognizes this, and predicts an exciting campaign with undoubtedly surprises…
July 19 in Jerez. And even the 15, date on which a restart test is expected on the same site. These are the dates selected for the launch of the 2020 season. In the world before, we would be almost halfway through. This shows the upheaval caused by this pandemic which is still declared... But man adapts, like his institutions and his organizations. With a protocol and new morals, life can take its course. It is even necessary, because we are talking about survival here.
This imposed delay was certainly suffered, but it was also taken advantage of. Marc Márquez's mechanic, Saints Hernández, does not hide it: “ this forced stoppage was positive for the recovery of Marc Márquez after his shoulder operation, and we hope that for the start of the season it will not be a problem, which would have been the case if we had started in March. »
“We had lost our way a little”
« We are planning some things in terms of preparation for the first race, how to start again after the break we have had since the test in Qatar but, at the moment, if I have to be honest, we are not talking about anything in particular. First we want to know officially when we are leaving and from then on we will do as usual: we will hold meetings by telephone where we will talk about the preparation for the first race. »
This reprieve was also beneficial to Honda : “ what worries us a little is the engine braking, the braking, we would like to gain more grip and more grip on the front axle. These same aspects that made us suffer during winter testing ". However, Hernández sweetened: “ On the last day we realized that for some reason we had lost our way a bit. »
« Taking a step back showed us some positive things and I think that's the most important thing, but it won't be easy because we didn't have a normal pre-season because of Marc's injury and the problems we had. It was not easy. We are also working on the departure system. A house like Honda works on all aspects and today they try many things and one of them is the “holeshot” but at the moment I'm not 100% sure we will get it. This is an important aspect »
“10 or 20 races, coronavirus or not, we are here to win”
How does the chief engineer envisage this first campaign in the next world? He evaluates as follows: “ I imagine that in the first races we will see a lot of surprises, especially after this break. When we arrive at a circuit after the Christmas holidays, there are always drivers who are very fast from the first session and there are others who we don't expect but who are there at the front, while others struggle to adapt to the motorcycle. This is why I say there can be many surprises. »
But even with a different context, Santi Hernández is calm about the strength of his camp: “ it doesn't change our mentality. For those who think that beating Marc this year will be less complicated, I think they are wrong. Each season has its particularities and this year will be a little different and even strange given the situation we are experiencing, but that does not change our objective: we will go out to win. It won't change anyone, neither the coronavirus, nor 10 races or 20 » he ends on motorionline. To the wise...
