Marini Identifies Mid-Corner Turning as Honda’s Achilles’ Heel in MotoGP Battle

Luca Marini pinpoints the main area where Honda is falling behind its MotoGP competitors

Luca Marini from Repsol Honda has shown noticeable improvement in recent races, yet Honda still lags in MotoGP performance.

Luca Marini finished the first day of the British MotoGP at Silverstone in 19th position, but he was also the second-fastest Honda rider, showing progress for the #10 team.

Marini, who had difficulty staying within 40 seconds of the race leader during the initial part of the season, seemed to improve at the Sachsenring. There, he earned his first point as an HRC rider by finishing 15th in the German Grand Prix.

At Silverstone on Friday, what seemed like a one-off occurrence at Sachsenring started to look like a developing pattern. He ended up as the second-fastest Honda rider, outpacing his Repsol Honda teammate and 2020 MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir by 0.6 seconds.

Results of Friday Practice at the 2024 British MotoGP in Silverstone

Marini mentioned that the enhancements are due to a mix of his better adaptation to the RC213V and some upgrades to the bike itself, rather than a single factor.

"It's definitely not just one factor; it's a matter of finding a balance," he mentioned to the press, including Crash.net, at Silverstone.

"I significantly improved my riding technique by adjusting to what the Honda demands for speed. Transitioning from a different manufacturer is challenging because, initially, you rely on instinct and replicate what you did with your previous bike. However, those methods might not be optimal for the new motorcycle."

"I've now attained a high level of proficiency with this, allowing me to maximize the bike's strengths while minimizing its weaknesses."

"The bike itself has undergone significant changes. The adjustments we've made have greatly enhanced it; I wouldn't describe it as easier to ride, but rather more enjoyable. Now, when I aim for speed, it's simpler for me because the bike's design aligns more closely with my ideal vision of a motorcycle."

"Honda continually provides us with updates designed to enhance performance. Although it's not quite sufficient yet, the combination of Marini adjusting his riding technique to fit the Honda, refining his setup, and the improvements introduced by HRC to the RC213V, results in improved performance."

Marini Identifies Key Shortcoming

On Friday at Silverstone, Johann Zarco achieved the highest position for Honda, placing 17th. He was 1.498 seconds behind Jorge Martin, who led the times on his 2024 Ducati. This indicates that Honda continues to lag behind other motorcycles in the MotoGP lineup. According to Marini, the primary issue with the Honda bike is its performance during mid-corner turns.

"The most notable difference between Honda and other manufacturers lies in cornering performance. Factory Ducati bikes, in particular, maintain significantly higher speeds through corners. Similarly, the factory Aprilia bikes exhibit remarkable cornering speed."

"We're currently unable to achieve this, which means we need to start braking a bit sooner. We also have to maintain the front brake for a longer duration and decelerate more in the middle of the turn to get the bike to pivot. This is our main problem right now, and it's not something we can completely fix just by adjusting our riding technique. While we can make slight improvements, it won't be sufficient. We need to focus on upgrading parts of the bike and introducing new updates."

LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami agreed with Marini’s evaluation of the Honda’s mid-corner performance relative to its competitors. Nakagami highlighted that the primary issue with the bike is its rear grip. He further explained that during the entry phases, the bike is quite challenging to handle, making it hard to maintain the racing line and necessitating significant deceleration to achieve proper turns.

"Right from the start, when you ease off and decelerate, this motorcycle struggles to stay on the racing line — it constantly veers off course. It’s very easy to stray from the racing line because it consistently pushes you outward. Then, I can't release the brake to make it turn, resulting in continuous problems."

“We're facing significant challenges right from the start.”

Marini has transitioned from using an electronic throttle with Ducati last year to a cable throttle with Honda this year.

Marini explained that the issue is not related to performance, but rather to comfort and familiarity.

"The sentiment is that you desire the cable because it's an experience you've consistently had ever since the days of pocket bikes."

Marini explained that the throttle allows for greater precision when initially engaging the gas and when changing direction. He noted that mistakes can easily occur with an electronic throttle since even the slightest hand movement can cause acceleration. Additionally, he mentioned that driving over bumps significantly affects the throttle's performance.

"There might also be an improvement during partial throttle as you manage rear grip, providing better connection with the rear tire. This results in the data showing a more stable and controlled pattern."

Marini reluctantly admitted that, unfortunately, a cable throttle offers no benefits compared to an electronic throttle.

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