As soon as the 2022 season ended last weekend in Valencia, the drivers of the premier category got back in the saddle with a view to preparing for the 2023 season, with their new machines for some, even their new colors for others. Who says new season, says changes: new faces in the paddock, new teams appearing, but also and above all, new machines. Factories had the opportunity to unveil prototypes that represent a year of hard work, or even a little more. The culmination of thousands of hours of effort by all the technical teams, testing of parts on the test bench and then by the pilots.
Even though his contract with Suzuki ends on December 31, 2022, for the 2023 season, Joan Mir moves to Repsol Honda, and he quickly got to work. The 2020 World Champion has at his disposal a machine with 2022 technical specifications, but also this one which has the new aerodynamic parts that Marc Marquez used recently as well as the Kalex swingarm.
This Honda RC213V also has a different air intake which we've already seen them try during the Misano test. Both Joan Mir and Marc Marquez have a machine equipped with this air intake.
The rear part of the Honda has also been reworked, in order to refocus the masses. Here is a rear view of the standard version for the 2022 season.
On this black prototype, the entire saddle backrest area has been reworked, as well as the exhausts which are different. These are the ones that Stefan Bradl has been riding with for some time, racing during his wildcard at the Spanish Grand Prix, but also last week at Jerez, during very private tests.
Marc Marquez also tested a new carbon clutch.
Alex Rins moves to Honda LCR for the 2023 season. He has a prototype equipped with this chassis, the same one that Takaaki Nakagami used recently. It also has a standard and 2022 season-compliant prototype. Both Honda RC213Vs are equipped with the standard 2022 aerodynamic package, which means they have the original 2022 fins but do not have the presence of the 2 ducts which direct the air flow towards the bottom of the motorcycle, like what exists on the Ducati.
Yamaha has brought its riders a new chassis, which stands out for its color: it has not yet been painted and therefore only the brushed aluminum remains. But the detail that is different is the weld that is on the top of the main beam around the steering column area. We've never seen this weld before.
We can compare it here to the standard 2022 chassis, which does not have this weld.
Both Yamaha riders have an all-black prototype. From the outside, these M1s look completely standard, so we suspect the change is behind the fairings, with the presence of the 2023 engine.
Yamaha is also offering two new aerodynamic packages. In this photo we see the first of them.
And here is the second one with fins that look a lot like the upper fins of KTM and GASGAS.
Photo credit: Dorna Sports
