Honda returned to WSBK with great ambitions put into a CBR triple R project which was to mark the brand's return to the highest level of the category. Alvaro Bautista had been poached at great expense from Ducati to be part of this adventure which is proving disappointing as it enters its third season. Two young, long-toothed riders from the Grands Prix have been recruited to make the difference and relaunch the adventure which we understand will not improve with the motorcycle. Alvaro Bautista, who returned to Ducati, explains why. But what is surprising is that HRC team manager Leon Camier totally agrees…
There is nothing abnormal about a former driver of the brand legitimizing his change of direction by developing the idea that he had looked around the project and arriving at the conclusion that it had no future for him. However, that he finds confirmation of his approach in the feelings of his former team manager who is still there, is more original. However, this is what emerges from the exchange at a distance noted between Alvaro Bautista et Leon Camier, which should not please Honda.
Public chat Todocircuito, we can thus read the assessment that draws Baptist of his two seasons of service at HRC: “ I had asked Honda for certain things, but they were not achievable in this championship. From Japan, they tried to help me in everything they could, but respecting the regulations. Honda did everything to make the bike better as is, but instead, they had to make deeper changes ».
« The guys on the team were great too, but they had no experience » adds the Spaniard. “ They didn't know electronics, everything had to be done from scratch And it was hard. In MotoGP, if a chassis doesn't work, you can make a new one, in SBK, if a chassis doesn't work, you can't do anything about it, you can do little things, but not too much. I tried until the end ».
« None of the changes made to the Honda help us«
The first meeting of the 2022 season in Aragon was played with the two new drivers Iker Lecuona et Xavier Vierge. For what results? In each of the three races they were positioned 6th, 8th and 10th, and 7th, 9th and 8th respectively. Leon Camier, the HRC WSBK team manager, has the honesty not to jump for joy… “ These are just small changes that have nothing to do with performance » he says of the latest evolution of the CBR triple R.
But why Honda does it not bring a CBR which will eliminate all the defects? “ I don't know the answer to this question either. » says camier who still has his own idea: “ big changes always come with big costs. This was probably a strategic decision by Honda Japan that has nothing to do with the race. None of the changes made help us. It is probably at the level of the quality of the production engine, the work processes or even the manufacturing methods ».
In addition to this criticism which should get people talking in Tokyo, the Englishman ends: “ it took Yamaha six years to be able to challenge for the world title. In addition to Toprak. The regulations are very restrictive and it takes a long time to perfect all the details until the team is at an optimal level ". In short, fortunately lecuona et Virgin are young and motivated…
