Honda’s MotoGP riders have admitted that the machines they’re starting the 2020 season on are in large part their 2019 bikes with minor upgrades.
That follows a disastrous winter testing campaign back in February in which Honda went in the wrong direction with aerodynamic development.
“It’s good in one sense because you have a similar feeling – but I would have preferred to have some more innovation” :: Cal Crutchlow
Reigning champion Marc Marquez and satellite racer Cal Crutchlow spent both pre-season tests at Sepang and Losail working on a radically different package of wings for the upcoming season, but struggled from the off with front end feeling from the bike.
Honda eventually ditched the wings on the final night of testing and reverted to last year’s, meaning that the majority of its work was in vain.
That in turn, according to Crutchlow, means that the machines they’ll start Sunday’s opening race of the year on are in large part identical to what they last raced at Valencia back in November.
“The bike that I’m riding now is essentially very similar to the 2019 bike, except for some upgrades in the electronics and the engine,” he said.
“The chassis and everything else is very much the same, which is good in one sense because you have a similar feeling – but I would have preferred to have some more innovation.”
And, with MotoGP’s rules largely locked down until the end of the 2021 season as a cost-saving exercise, Marquez admitted that it could be a while before upgrades are forthcoming.
“We have some evolution in a few parts like the engine, and we’re working on swinging arms and the chassis as well,” he said.
“But the reason we’re using the 2019 aero package is because the rules have changed and now you’ve only got one joker card to change it.
“We cannot take the risk of homologating a completely new package, because we don’t know if it’ll work.
“For that reason, we’re starting with something we know and HRC are working in that area.
“We’ve got one joker for two years and we need to be sure before we homologate.”
While it’s unlikely to provide a huge hindrance to the eight-time world champion’s attempts to match Valentino Rossi’s nine in 2020, it is no doubt a headache that both Marquez and his HRC bosses could do without.
Honda’s predicament also shows just how important aerodynamic development has become to MotoGP in only a matter of years.
With no official tests planned for the remainder of the delayed season, it’s uncertain when Marquez is likely to see upgrades coming.
However, he’s been substantially aided by the coronavirus crisis in more ways than just giving him time to heal an injured shoulder.
With multiple back-to-back races giving him and development rider Crutchlow more track time to test once they dial in a race setting, it’s likely that much of their Friday track time at next weekend’s Andalucian Grand Prix at the Jerez circuit will be dedicated to working through their 2020 parts again, this time with the old wings.
