MotoGP, Sepang J2 Test Marc Marquez (Honda/13): "Mir and Rins used a setup that I haven't tried, there is always a boss or someone who has more decision-making power than you"

We must not hide it, these three days of testing at Sepang are turning sour for Honda and this is starting to corrode the nevertheless solid relationship with Marc Marquez. The 213 RC2023V is not there, literally or figuratively since no less than three motorcycles are in the Repsol box which sports a black color that looks like mourning for the last hopes. This is not how the eight-time World Champion will take the crown that he still lacks to sit alongside Valentino Rossi. He knows it and does not hide this obvious fact: Honda is no longer even a threat for a top 5. And then there is Ken Kawauchi who made his mark by having him test 2022 elements while working on a configuration that is still unknown to Marc Marquez but entrusted to Rins and Mir whom he has known since the Suzuki era…

There is still one day of testing left. Sepang before heading off for two more days of testing at Portimao which will then open the 2023 season. The first Grand Prix is therefore already tomorrow in MotoGP and we do not see very well what Honda will be able to do more than has ever been achieved for two seasons and again this winter. Marc Marquez prepared ourselves physically, but at HRC, we still haven't built up our muscles.

And then there is this speech from Marc Marquez, with a surprising tone, like weariness. He said of this Saturday: “ We only did 25 laps in the dry today, but that was enough to test the three black bikes. This makes things a little difficult because you're going to be riding a different machine with different things every ride. But preseason is the time to do these things ". Then he adds: “ and someone at Honda has to do it ". Like a chore.

« As you probably saw, the bike with the Repsol livery wasn't even in the pits on Saturday because it was the 2022 bike ", explained the factory driver Honda. " We now focused on the three different black motorcycles. We tested all three and have already rejected one. We must continue to work on Sunday ". But he is not master of the program either: “ the new technical manager wants to see with his own eyes what is happening. We're trying things that didn't work last year, but he wants to try. So I accept this role and I accept that now in the offseason I need to have this information, this is the time to do it ". He does not quote it, but he speaks well of Ken Kawauchi, to which he will return…

**Marc Marquez: “ sooner or later there will come a day when someone younger, better or with a different philosophy than you comes along«**

But in the meantime, the timesheet is merciless: “ we are still far from the fastest drivers, it's obvious… For now, we can't fight for the top 5... Unfortunately, today we should have tested ourselves a lot and tomorrow we should have focused on pace and other details, but we won't succeed. So tomorrow we will continue the tests, evaluating the different bikes and we will decide if, in view of Portimao, we will improve both machines or if we will go in only one direction ».

Then he concludes with this speech which can only challenge: “ There are times when a big company like Honda makes decisions that you can't control. Sometimes they will change technicians, sometimes they will change drivers… Sooner or later, for all of us here, there will come a day when someone younger, better or with a different philosophy than you will arrive. And then the big boss will make the decision ».