Espargaró and Nakagami in Thailand for a Honda test

Just two months ago, Aleix Espargaró and Takaaki Nakagami were on the MotoGP grid as starters, ending a long career, one at Aprilia and the other at the Honda satellite team, LCR. Here they are now united with the same objective: to support the development of HRC, of ​​which they have joined the testing team alongside long-standing Stefan Bradl.

Their new duties take them to Buriram at the start of the year, while the Thai circuit will play an important role in hosting the final pre-season tests (February 12-13) then the first Grand Prix of the championship (February 28). -March 2). Espargaró and Nakagami will do two days of driving there, Friday and Saturday, accompanied by a large part of the test team but in the absence of Bradl.

By appearing in the last category determining the level of concessions allocated to manufacturers, Honda can carry out private tests on any track and at any time, with the sole exception of the 14 days preceding a Grand Prix and with the quota limit of regulatory tires, namely 260 for all the brand's drivers.

Also, the HRC is showing itself to be active, since after the collective test on November 19 in Barcelona, ​​the group worked for two days in Jerez on November 26 and 27, running two motorcycles shared by Joan Mir, Luca Marini, Johann Zarco and Aleix Espargaró. Then, on December 18 and 19, Nakagami made his debut in his new role as test driver by spending two days at the Sepang circuit.

Now, for Honda, the time has come to prepare for the final phase of testing leading up to the races, this private test allowing test and development drivers to evaluate the new products prepared at the factory before passing the baton to the holders. In two weeks, they will be on track in turn when all the teams come out of their winter break. Sepang will then host two rounds of testing: the shakedown (January 31-February 2) during which Honda and Yamaha, as well as test riders and rookies, will be able to ride, then the official session scheduled for February 5-7.