Honda’s Bold Leap: Unveiling the “Full Package” Difference at Misano MotoGP Test

Honda preparing for significant upgrade, an extensive overhaul, at Misano

Alberto Puig: "At Misano, we're expecting the most substantial upgrade of the year. It's going to be more than just an engine or aerodynamics change; it's a complete package overhaul."

Following a minor enhancement to the RC213V's MotoGP engine in Austria, Repsol Honda's team manager Alberto Puig announced that the team's most significant advancement of the year is expected to be unveiled at Misano.

This move, referred to by Puig as a 'complete change', is expected to be introduced during the Official MotoGP post-race test on September 9, instead of at this week's exclusive session at the Italian circuit.

"Indeed, we've seen advancements in how the throttle links up with the new engine setup. This improvement impacts various riders differently… However, the approach we're taking seems to be the right one," Puig explained to Dorna's Simon Crafar while in Austria.

"Another examination is forthcoming for reassurance. Following that, at Misano, we're anticipating the most significant advancement this year. It won't solely focus on the engine or aerodynamics; it involves an extensive overhaul of the entire package."

"It's evident we haven't reached our goal yet, though we've identified the issues and are actively working on resolving them."

The 'Austria' engines represented the second phase of the newly introduced specifications that debuted in Barcelona.

The 'Barcelona' engines were not as fast in a straight line as the regular model, yet they were considered an initial move towards improvement. Joan Mir saw them as a strategy of retreating one step to advance two steps in the future.

Despite both Mir and his Repsol Honda teammate, Luca Marini, having access to the updated setup in Austria, it seems Takaaki Nakagami was the initial racer to compete with the upgraded engines, doing so at Silverstone.

At the British Grand Prix, Nakagami was equipped with two fresh engines, and during the Red Bull Ring event, he didn't unveil any additional ones. However, he mentioned that his engine specifications matched those of the Repsol team riders.

Johann Zarco, Nakagami's teammate at LCR, initiated the use of a fresh engine in Austria. However, this caused him difficulties during the race, leading him to continue with a previous engine model.

Despite ending up as the highest-placed rider on a Japanese motorcycle, in 14th position, Nakagami minimized the impact of the recent engine adjustments.

"He stated, 'This isn't a huge leap forward… In essence, we're unable to determine whether this package marks an improvement. While in certain aspects the updated specifications offer minor enhancements, we continue to face challenges.'"

"In my scenario, I'm transitioning from the ‘Zarco-spec’ [engine] to the latest version. For instance, Marini shifted from a different [new] spec to this current one. Therefore, he might perceive the distinction more distinctly.

"Regardless, it's the minor details that we gradually address, tackling the issues one step at a time!"

Nakagami expressed that he experienced a "positive sensation with the motorcycle" as he ascended from 22nd position on the starting lineup.

"It's unfortunate that the qualification round didn't go as well as hoped, but I was confident that over the longer race, if I avoided any errors, my aim was to be the quickest among the Honda drivers."

Mir faced a disappointing grand prix, ending up in 17th position and lagging 40 seconds behind the race's victor, Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati.

"Finishing the race was genuinely tough. I couldn't have felt worse," Mir said, expressing his disappointment after encountering unforeseen issues with the newly adjusted engine setup he had been eager to try out at the Red Bull Ring.

He further mentioned, "I struggle to find a particular aspect where I hold an advantage. When braking in a straight line, I experienced front wheel lock-ups. Additionally, my motorcycle was excessively spinning. It gives you a perpetual sense of instability that's difficult to manage."

"Consequently, our tyre wear is more significant compared to others due to excessive spinning and overheating. Additionally, at the race's start while in the pack, I had to reduce speed because my front tyre pressure was excessively high. This prevented me from pushing forward as I would have liked."

The Spanish racer is currently setting his sights on making advancements in the upcoming rounds of testing and race events.

"Our agenda is packed as we're set to conduct tests in Misano on Wednesday, for a single day. Following that, at the Aragon GP, we plan to experiment further. We'll also be exploring additional options, including various engine setups, during the Misano race and another testing session in Misano," Mir explained.

The 2020 world champion from Suzuki supported Puig's remarks, mentioning that the test items at Misano will feature 'some significant updates'.

"We're going to experiment with some significant changes to improve our grip, which I believe will guide us in determining our strategy for the upcoming year."

Marini, who has recently been the most optimistic among the Honda riders following his rise from last place in the timesheets, was unable to complete the Grand Prix on Sunday because of a mechanical issue.

"The Italian referred to the new engine update as a minor improvement, rather than a significant change, when discussing the Austria spec setup. He noted that after the Silverstone race, Taka's performance seemed to slightly improve, yet it still fell short of rivaling other engines in terms of straight-line speed, which he finds more challenging to handle."

On Sunday night, Marini was also focusing on the future trials at his nearby circuit:

"We had a strong weekend, with several beneficial outcomes that should aid in the bike's development. Up next is a crucial test in Misano, where we're hoping for favorable weather conditions."

This week's confidential trials are expected to introduce aerodynamic enhancements, as Marini has suggested. These improvements will focus on harnessing ground effect technology, a tactic long utilized by European bikes to enhance their turning and braking capabilities.

Adjustments to the swingarm, frame components, and electronic enhancements are part of the plan, though they are considered minor tweaks. While everything has been updated, it's not an entirely new endeavor. Rather, it's an improvement in several aspects, albeit modestly.

"Hence, if you had introduced the bike at the season's beginning here – it might not have been my preference, but potentially for Zarco – the gap would have been minimal. Thus, we need to exert additional effort, but I truly value the hard work that every engineer is contributing to the project."

Marini hinted at the possibility of a major development being revealed during the official Misano test, though it seemed he was referring to a particular update rather than the complete set of enhancements mentioned by Puig.

"There's a possibility that this could turn out to be significant. Once I've given it a shot, we'll know for sure… So, we should hold off until the time comes for us to attempt it."

Marini and Mir have utilized 7 of the 9 engines they're permitted for this season, indicating that the Repsol team members have the opportunity to experiment with only one additional engine design revision should they decide to implement it across both their primary and backup motorcycles.

The LCR team has greater leeway for upcoming modifications, with Zarco utilizing 5 engines and Nakagami employing 6.

Explore Further

Recent Updates

Recent Updates

Site Navigation

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Copying or replicating any portion of the text, images, or illustrations in any manner is strictly prohibited.