This departure announced on Motorsport by HRC director Tetsuhiro Kuwata, marks another major change at Honda after a difficult 2023 season. Kuwata, who has worked on Honda's MotoGP project since 2010, will leave his position on April 1, 2024 to join the company's automotive department. The move comes after Honda suffered its worst season in MotoGP in 2023, with the departure of Marc Marquez. However, the manufacturer wishes to emphasize from Japan that its decision was in no way influenced by the sporting, technical and political crisis which is shaking its RC213V Grand Prix project.
But although Honda affirms that the repositioning of Kuwata is not directly linked to the disappointing results of MotoGP in recent years, it is clear that it contributes at least in part to this development. His successor, Taichi Honda, has already been appointed to head the HRC. Taichi Honda comes from the off-road department of Honda and recently led the Dakar Rally team.
Kuwata marks third high-level personnel change at Honda since 2022
The departure of Kuwata marks the third high-level personnel change at Honda since 2022. These changes include the removal of the technical director Takeo Yokoyama and the general director of the technological development division Shinichi Kokubu. These movements indicate a serious effort on the part of Honda to revitalize its MotoGP program and adapt to an increasingly competitive racing environment.
Furthermore, the commitment of Klaus-Peter Baumgärtel, from the German company Kalex Engineering, as an advisor to Honda Racing Corporation, demonstrates the desire to Honda to bring a new perspective to your team MotoGP. We will recall that it is in such a context of recovery that the RC213V will present itself in 2024 with a logo Honda much more ostentatious than that of Repsol until then dominant.
