This year, Honda has greatly evolved its Test team, recruiting two of the three drivers who retired after the Barcelona Grand Prix to help them develop their project. Efforts deemed essential by Joan Mir, somewhat exhausted from having assumed this role, at the same time as that of factory driver, in 2024.
Since the end of the 2024 season, Takaaki Nakagami and Aleix Espargaro have been part of the HRC test driver team. Two important signatures for the Japanese manufacturer, which is sparing no effort to get back on track, and which, to do so, must take maximum advantage of the manufacturer concession system which benefits it.
Rank D factory, like Yamaha, Honda has not taken enough advantage of the system redesigned at the dawn of the 2024 season according to Joan Mir. The Spaniard even believes that the concessions have in no way impacted Honda's progress during the twenty rounds which made up the 2024 campaign.
“Good question. This year, [nous serions] probably in the same place we are [sans les concessions],
confided Joan Mir in Barcelona, when asked to take stock of Honda's season. They help us for the next ones. But in the short term, they give us no advantage. We see it in the results. We have to find a way to produce parts that make us faster. At the moment, we cannot obtain them. »
It must, however, be emphasized that the situation of the Japanese manufacturer has changed greatly, between the first stages of the 2024 season and the last ones. If No. 36 has the impression that things are not moving quickly enough, it is also because he judges that the roles were poorly distributed.
©HRC
Manufacturer concessions allow Yamaha and Honda to run all their riders during private tests. Luca Marini's teammate, however, somewhat regrets having continued the Test sessions for Honda. He believes that his role as a regular driver should not lead him to complete so many laps between two Grands Prix.
“You know, the fact that the factory riders can test more, I don't think it's an advantage, he continues.
If the bike was better, I would be faster. This is why we do tests. But we're going to try something, we're spending a day there, without any psychological rest. And so we have races, tests, races, tests, and maybe it's worse. We have strengthened the test team, and we need to put it to good use, to have a good basis of what we can try during the GPs. Then we can see if it's better. »
He is therefore looking forward to having more time off between competition weekends in 2025, since Takaaki Nakagami and Aleix Espargaro will focus more on this part of the work for Honda.
“We need to reorganize things a little for next year. This is already done. The test team was not enough. We only had one test pilot. Honestly, the infrastructure of the test team could be improved a lot. We did it, and I think that for next year it will be a big help” concluded Joan Mir.
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