Lots of changes at Honda in view of the next MotoGP season. Signed a new technical collaboration.
Honda is still changing a lot before taking to the track for the first MotoGP test of 2023. After the disappointing 2022 season in which HRC finished in last place in the constructors’ standings, the top management wanted to reshuffle the technical organization chart at the inside the box. The technical director Takeo Yokoyamaa point of reference since 2016, will be replaced by a Japanese engineer yet to be formalised.
The crew chiefs also change, with the exception of Santi Hernandez who will continue his collaboration with the multiple champion Marc Marquez. Newcomer Joan Mir will be assisted by James Guidottiafter the Mallorcan driver was not allowed to bring his Suzuki chief engineer Frankie Carchedi. Ramon Aurin he will switch to the test team with Stefan Bradl. The German will support Takaaki Nakagami Klaus Noehleswhile Alex Rins will have Spanish at his disposal David Garcia.
Honda signs with the Akrapovic brand
The news doesn’t end there. Already in the second part of the 2022 championship, Honda started to mount aluminum swingarms Kalex and from 2023 the exhaust will also change. The six-year partnership with the Lombard company SC-Project ends and a new collaboration with the brand is inaugurated Akrapovicwhich currently equips most of the MotoGP World Championship teams.
In the official statement HRC extension he says he is enthusiastic about the new agreement: “We are delighted to welcome Akrapovic as our new technical partner for the 2023 season and beyond“said Tetsuhiro Kuwata, director of HRC. “We will work with them to further develop the exhaust system for the Honda RC213V as we work to make progress. We are confident that this cooperation will bring success and new developments“.
The first test bench will be the Sepang test of 10 – 12 Februarywhen all the official riders will test the new prototypes. Marc Marquez and Honda will try to find that understanding that was lacking in the last season, when the RC213V highlighted various technical flaws without being able to remedy them. During this winter break, the Japanese engineers will have to give the signal for a breakthrough, otherwise the risk is that the paths of the Japanese manufacturer and the champion from Cervera will part ways… before the natural expiry of the contract.
