Xavi Virginie's intervention during the last presentation of the Honda troops for the 2022 season was undoubtedly much less followed than that of Marc Marquez. But it is worth paying attention to in the sense that it confirms HRC's desire to fold the cards this year. In MotoGP, it will be through the arrival of a new RC213V. In WSBK, the CBR triple R will remain on the same basis, but with two fiery young drivers on it tasked with making the difference with their fresh eyes, despite their total lack of experience in the category. A bet made on Iker Lecuona and Xavi Virginie who thus explains his point of view…
« Honda wanted two young, talented drivers who were hungry ". This is how it explains Xavi Virgo the reasons for this bold choice of Honda to put on his Superbike machine a duo from the Grands Prix, with a low average age, and without experience in the category reserved for series machines. A sentence which also sounds like a disavowal made to predecessors Baptist et haslam, and which would betray a weariness of seeing the CBR triple R project not evolving quickly enough. The winged coat of arms would therefore count on these two ambitious pilots with their careers ahead of them to kick off the anthill. And too bad if the tires Pirelli will be to be discovered as well as certain routes on the calendar.
Coming from Moto2, Xavi Verge remembers his first contact with his new mount: “ we did a first test in December and I was impressed by the bike and the amount of work that awaits us for a really intense winter because we have a lot of things to test he says. " The power of the Honda is incredible and the priority is to do as many laps as possible to understand the CBR more and more. Superbike is a completely new world for me and I need to understand a lot of things ».
Xavi Virgo: “the power of the Honda is incredible”
« I think World Superbike has reached an incredible level, but ultimately we all know the potential of the Honda » adds the Spaniard. “ We don't set any goals, we just focus on working to be ready for the start of the season ».
He thus assesses what he expects in 2022: “ in Superbike we will have three races during the weekend and it will be a big challenge, given that the bike has grown a lot and has also been on the podium. We must therefore continue to improve the CBR, without changing too much the good things that have been done in recent months, since Honda managed to fight for the podium at the end of 2021. Obviously, one of the priorities will be to be competitive as soon as possible to be able to play for something important ».
On the transition from Moto2 to World SBK, he declares : " Superbike is definitely a step forward, although there will be a lot of new things to deal with. The first test I did helped me approach and understand this world in which I now ride with a motorcycle with a lot of potential”.
Xavi Verge ends that the relationship with Iker Lecuona, his new teammate. “ As you know this project started two years ago and Honda wants to win the SBK as soon as possible. After the experience with Álvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam, HRC wanted two young and talented drivers, hungry for victory and able to put a lot of energy. Therefore, Iker and I are eager to embark on this new adventure ».
