Romano Albesiano, symbol of the necessary openness at Honda

The competition is working to get back on Ducati. While Gigi Dall’Igna is doing wonders at the head of the technical department at Borgo Panigale, rival manufacturers have all announced major changes over the past year. The game of musical chairs has intensified in recent weeks with the departure of Fabiano Sterlacchini, technical director of KTM, for Aprilia, where he will replace Romano Albesiano, a figure of the manufacturer since his return to MotoGP almost ten years ago.

Albesiano will for his part join Honda and succeed Ken Kawauchi, now stationed with the test team. The Japanese manufacturer will thus rely on an Italian engineer with extensive experience with a European manufacturer to lead its technical destiny, exactly as Yamaha did a year ago by recruiting Max Bartolini, who arrived from Ducati.

In recent seasons, the two Japanese brands have lost touch with their rivals and the working methods specific to their country, with a certain reluctance to open up to outside ideas, have often been judged to be responsible. Honda certainly called on Alex Baumgärtel, co-founder of the chassis manufacturer Kalex, known for its success in Moto2, but the cooperation only lasted a few months, obviously due to communication problems. Albesiano’s appointment, however, illustrates a desire to finally change policy.

One of the best placed to notice this change in mentality is probably Marc Márquez, long a leading figure of the brand but now an external observer of this evolution. A year ago, the Spaniard decided to leave Honda for Ducati, believing that the project was too important even though he had just celebrated his 30th birthday and did not want to lose another year in his career.

And even if Japanese manufacturers are known for a certain pride pushing them to apply their own ideas, Márquez believes that Honda is right to be pragmatic and to implement solutions that have proven themselves. “In competition, it’s not good to have pride”analyzed #93. “If you lose, you have to swallow your pride and see what others are doing better. Sometimes you have to change your philosophy, you have to adapt.”

“I don’t know Albesiano, but it’s a good decision”added Marquez. “In the end, Honda has the budget and everything it takes. They have the biggest potential in the paddock, everyone knows that, but this decision goes against Honda’s philosophy. For me, in competition, it Sometimes you have to change your philosophy, adapt to what the situation demands.”

“Now, Honda’s situation requires us to get back in front as quickly as possible and recruiting engineers makes doing so cheaper and faster, because we are adopting the methods of other manufacturers. It will provide valuable information. another manufacturer and for me it’s a good decision, and I’m happy because it looks like Honda continues to give everything For the championship, it’s good that a brand like Honda wants to continue, push and continue. development. Sooner or later, they will be at the top.”

The “fresh ideas” Honda needs?

The recruitment of Romano Albesiano is seen as a necessity by Joan Mir, delighted with the arrival of a man who took Aprilia from the back of the grid to the first places in the space of a few seasons. “I think it’s a very important decision because we need people like Romano in the team, with his big experience at Aprilia”Mir told the official MotoGP website. “A few years ago, I think Aprilia was in a similar situation to Honda, he made them progress and he made the bike perform well. He knows a little bit about what needs to be done.”

The 2020 world champion also believes that Albesiano will be useful in providing the methods of a very dynamic structure, which he believes the Honda liner, often difficult to move, needs. “Aprilia is a very small factory compared to HRC so they have a very fast response time”Mir told reporters during the Motegi weekend. “That’s something he’s going to explain to HRC and that we’re probably going to improve on.”

“Et [il va] explore a little more the capacity of the technicians in Japan, of the Japanese staff. They are very good but we have to reduce this reaction time a little from one thing to another, from one evolution to another. Often you ask for something and when it happens, it’s a small thing and probably not the way to close the gap to the leaders.”

For his part, Johann Zarco does not see only bad things within the manufacturer. “I still believe that the Japanese have an incredible quality of work”underlined the LCR pilot. The fact remains that Honda is evolving too slowly, which he also deplores: “It’s just that sometimes, certain decisions can take a long time and that’s why we can have delays in development. Having fresh ideas from a European can help the Japanese and push them to make bigger changes, taking advantage of the hard work of the Japanese.”

But if he believes that Albesiano has the potential to bring a “new way” and allow “bigger changes”Zarco is not expecting a revolution and above all hopes for a marriage between the best of two methods: “At the moment, it’s just him. It’s not like it’s a group of ten Italians who show up and play Italian music in a Japanese factory! He’ll bring ideas and if that helps, I think it will be really interesting because the quality of work of the Japanese remains really impressive. Even on our bike, with which we are suffering, I still feel that there is a Japanese spirit which always impresses me, because certain things. work.”

Puig defends Honda’s methods

Some at Honda want to highlight these things that work. Alberto Puig even seeks to minimize the significance of the signing of Romano Albesiano, because if he welcomes the “big experience” of the Italian engineer, the team manager of the official team is not “not completely agree” with the idea that a change in philosophy is necessary. Above all, he sees the concrete benefit of having a European technical director to come and coordinate the development carried out in Japan and the structure in charge of preparing races on the Old Continent.

“It’s not that Honda needs to be open to new ideas”Puig assured DAZN, MotoGP broadcaster in Spain. “Sometimes people have a lot of ideas but they have to work. We’ve done a lot of things, some have worked and some haven’t. I think Romano’s help will be very important, he’s really going to be at the base of the team. We will work together, we are satisfied.

“What is important is that he can associate with the people in Japan, that he can bring all his experience, acquired over all these years”added the former pilot. “It’s important to have a technical director in Europe to make things easier. Relations on the circuit are sometimes easier for Europeans than for others.”

Luca Marini came to support his boss. “I don’t think it’s a change in philosophy”assured the Italian, nevertheless satisfied with this development. “I think it’s very good news, he will be able to bring a lot of information, knowledge, he will try to coordinate the work as best as possible between the garage and the company in Japan. For me, it’s good rookie and I look forward to working with him.”

With Oriol Puigdemont, Rubén Carballo Rosa and Lorenza D’Adderio