The two Honda factory riders had a brand new chassis at Assen on Friday, and to be able to compare its behavior, they also had available on their second machine a chassis that they have used all year. But is this chassis an evolution or a complete revolution?
The differences are relatively significant, and according to our sources, Marc Marquez gave very positive feedback about it despite a fairly impressive highside in FP2 today while using this new chassis. However, according to him, this drop is due to electronics.
Honda had the two factory drivers test this new chassis last weekend during the Dutch GP. It is very different from the 2 chassis and the 2020 chassis, with different thicknesses of material at the level of the main beam and changes in its curves which probably gives it very different characteristics.
While examining the new chassis, we noticed that while this may be the first time we've seen it at an official event during this season, we've actually already glimpsed a few features.
Indeed, it seems that Stefan Bradl tested this chassis at Jerez in January. It was the first and only time he had appeared on the track, so far. It therefore seems that Stefan Bradl has validated it, and that it resurfaced this weekend at Assen.
However, although the thicknesses of the main beam, the curves and the positions of the engine mounts all appear to be similar, or at least placed in the same places, this does not mean that they are the same chassis. Honda may have been working in the shadows and could have changed some things internal to this chassis that we can't make out in the photos.
So the chassis that Marc Marquez tested at Assen is either the chassis that Stefan Bradl tested in January, and now the factory drivers are trying it, or a slightly evolved version.
For comparison, here is the 2020 chassis that Marc Marquez used until then.
And here is the 2021 chassis that Pol Espargaro prefers.
Another notable thing: Marc Marquez continues to use the older version of the exhaust which has a larger diameter exhaust tip. And interestingly Alex Marquez has now also installed the old exhaust on one of his 2 machines to compare them as well.
Finally, Marc Marquez used the new aerodynamic package during the WE in Assen, which had debuted in Germany.
Photo credit: Dorna Sports & HRC
