If you're wondering why Honda's form has suddenly picked up, we might finally have an answer: a new frame that has appeared for several races and appears to make this MotoGP prototype more manageable.
Over the past few races, Honda has developed a new exhaust, switched to new Öhlins BDB50 rear shock absorber and unveiled an evolution of their frame, now covered in carbon. But during all this time, they also developed a whole new framework, which had eluded us until then.
This image was taken at Le Mans and shows Honda's new frame. You have to look closely at the frame of Alex Marquez's Honda, especially around the swingarm pivot area, to see the difference. Note that across the width of the frame where the swingarm pivot is located, the frame surface does not taper at the area closest to the engine.
The frame only narrows below the swingarm pivot, where it begins to be obscured by the fairing (above the "One HEART" sticker).
This photo is from Austria. Here, the frame area is not equivalent between the front and rear, where the swingarm pivot is located. It tapers from where the rear loop mounting points are to where the swingarm pivot is.
The biggest thing revealing the new frame in the first photo is the missing hole that sits above and to the left of the swingarm pivot on the frame seen here. On the new frame, this hole is not present.
This photo taken last Friday in Valencia confirms that Alex is using this new frame again. Honda has taken a leap forward in terms of performance and it seems that this frame has been one of the most important factors. All of a sudden the Honda corners a lot better, which is largely due to the geometry changes. Honda has always looked for more lateral flex and it seems this frame has given them what they were looking for. Lateral flex helps a motorcycle turn better because it adds some "suspension" to the machine when it is on high lean angles.
Here is one of the explanations relating to Alex Marquez's good results.
Stefan Bradl has always tested the carbon-covered frame. We think he has one bike with this frame and a second with the frame Alex installed. However, it seems that more and more, Bradl is working on the experimental carbon-covered framework.
