If the two Japanese manufacturers present in MotoGP are having a difficult time, like Yamaha which is making great efforts by retaining Fabio Quartararo and not hesitating to start building a V4 for comparison with its in-line four-cylinder , Honda is not left out and acts both on a technical level and on a human level.
We have already seen a clear improvement in the performance of the RC 213 V thanks to a new fairing and a new swingarm including
Johann Zarco was able to achieve its quintessence in Indonesia, but alongside these technical developments, a restructuring of the various teams of the golden-winged manufacturer is taking place.
It is now established, and official, that the always fast
Takaaki Nakagami will be replaced by the Thai
Somkiat Chantra and will become a test pilot in the HRC Test Team in 2025, and we have just learned that he will be joined by Ken Kawauchidefector from Suzuki since the start of 2023, and currently technical director of the Repsol Honda and Honda LCR teams.
Promotion or not, ultimately it doesn’t matter because, exactly as for Takaaki Nakagamiif the results have hardly changed during his activity in this position and his new role could appear to be a demotion, his new function will make him a cog further upstream in the development of the motorcycle, therefore concretely more important than simply operating the equipment provided to him. We remember that last year, his direct superior, Shinichi Kokubuhad already been replaced by Shin Sato. To take the place of
Ken Kawauchi on the circuits during race weekends, we would call on Mikihiko Kawase
(source Motorsport), following an internal promotion.
The name of Fabiano Sterlacchinian important cog at Ducati who moved to KTM in 2021, has circulated in the press, but would be located in a higher technical position. Arriving in Mattighofen through the front door by being inducted as director of MotoGP technology, he left through the small door, following the stagnation of results during this 2024 season. His formalization and his role have not yet been announced.
Finally, to conclude this subject on the reshuffles at Honda, the Spanish journalist Manuel Pecino, for our partner Motosan.es, indicated thatAlberto Puig signed a new two-year contract a few weeks ago, but had this intriguing sentence: “If Alberto left Honda, it would be more because of a physical problem and not because of a contractual problem. »
As we can see, things are moving a little in all directions at Honda (without even mentioning the less than successful Kalex interlude) and this is good news: like Yamaha, faced with the difficulties the Tokyo manufacturer has decided to stand up sleeves and not to throw in the towel like Suzuki and did it for financial reasons.
The coming weeks should allow us to see things more clearly and, we hope, confirm the progress of the RC 213 V on the track…
Honda MotoGP 2025
Honda MotoGP 2025
