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As some of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid heads to the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” for a two-day test, teams will have the opportunity to test some new components on their machines to try and take more steps forward. Team HRC tested new swingarms throughout Day 1 and riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge were on hand to give their feedback of the new items following after finishing Day 1 of the test inside the top ten.

NEW ITEMS: swingarms for the CBR1000RR-R

Honda brought new components to tests at MotorLand Aragon and the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and it appeared they had made a step ahead of the Dutch Round at the TT Circuit Assen. Although they were inside the top ten at points throughout both rounds, they weren’t able to fight for a podium place consistently throughout with Lecuona the closest in Catalunya when he missed out by half-a-second.  In order to try and take another step, Team HRC have more components to try at the Misano test, including items to help with rider position on the bike to help benefit Lecuona and Vierge as well as two variants of a new swingarm which was described by Camier as “probably the main thing” for the test.

Discussing the new components, Camier said: “We have a new swingarm to test, that’s probably the main thing. This will be interesting. We actually have two different versions of it to try, just to see the direction. Hopefully we will understand something from this. Apart from that, there’s not too much. There are some other small items, but this is the main point of this test. We also want to check rider position on the bike to understand, with the super concession chassis, where to put the riders on the bike and the overall balance.”

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Lecuona and Vierge discuss the swingarm

Vierge was the fastest Honda rider on Day 1 and he tested one of the two swingarms that Honda brought to the test. He completed 87 laps on his CBR1000RR-R machine as he posted a best time of 1’34.043s after lapping just over a second slower than Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) with Vierge using the SCX tyre for his best lap time. Lecuona was eighth at the end of Day 1 after setting a 1’34.602s and completing 65 laps.

Discussing the new swingarm, Vierge said: “We finished the day with a really good feeling but it’s been a difficult day. Last year, this round was really good so I came here with a good feeling because we know we can be competitive. The morning was difficult. We struggled more than expected and we didn’t really understand exactly why. After lunch, we made some changes on the bike and I already felt a little bit better. Then we tried one of the new swingarms, this gave me more feeling. With that feeling, you can make more difference. I did many laps this afternoon on new and used tyres and I recovered good feelings. I rode the bike how I want.”

Lecuona added: “I tried two different swingarms plus the standard one. For this, I need to spend a lot of time in the box because it’s not an easy change for the guys. We have data, now we need to understand. I can say that the second one feels better. I only did a few runs with the first one. We need to check the data to understand because also, for myself, it’s not easy to say whether it’s better or not because everything is new.”

2023 IN REVIEW: “we’re not happy to be where we are”

In 2023, Honda have one podium to their name after Vierge took his first WorldSBK podium in Race 2 at Mandalika. Both Lecuona and Vierge have been fighting inside the top ten throughout races in a highly competitive field and, speaking at the test, Camier reviewed the 2023 campaign so far for Honda. After four rounds, Honda are fourth in the Manufacturers’ Championship, 36 points behind Kawasaki ahead and 23 ahead of BMW behind.

Reviewing 2023 so far, Camier said: “We’re not happy to be where we are. We were probably expecting to be further up this year, but it is what it is. We have to keep understanding the problems, keep working on them and keep improving. This is the goal. Can’t see we’re content with where we are, but it is what it is, and we have to keep working.”

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