"New items, new ideas" on suspension for Honda at Aragon test, Vierge and Lecuona ‘found some positives’
Both Honda riders left Aragon feeling positive are testing the new surface and new components on the suspension of their bike
Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) and teammate Iker Lecuona left testing at MotorLand Aragon feeling optimistic after two days of action to prepare for upcoming MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship rounds. Honda had new components to try from suspension supplier Showa while they were also getting to understand the grip offered by the new surface at Aragon following the resurfacing at the Spanish venue.
Honda had been struggling in the first part of the season but have changed their fortunes in recent rounds, including at Magny-Cours with both Vierge and Lecuona were consistently in the top ten in dry, wet and mixed conditions. Honda will be hoping to continue that form through the final four rounds of the season, and the Aragon test will be part of that after being able to understand the new asphalt at Aragon but try new items which Lecuona stated is something they would try at future rounds.
At the two-day test, where Honda completed 1.5 days of testing, the Japanese manufacturer focused on bike setup ahead of the Aragon Round in a couple of weeks, but also had items to try from Showa on their suspension. Both Vierge and Lecuona were positive after completing the test, with Vierge declaring they ‘found some positives’ and Lecuona stating the test was ‘quite good’ after completing their programme.
Reviewing the Aragon test, Vierge said: “We’ve finished the Aragon test with good feelings. It’s been really good to come here because with the new asphalt, everything’s changed. It was good to work on that. We focused the work on bike setup a lot and some different things on suspension. We found some positives. The new asphalt, on the racing line, has amazing grip. We need to adapt our bike to that. We made good progress and we finished with good race pace and a not-so-bad fast lap. I’m happy with that and now we move to Cremona, where we had the opportunity to have some test days which will be super important because it’s a new track on the calendar. The last rounds have been positive and I’m really looking forward, so let’s continue on the same line as the last races.”
Teammate Lecuona added: “We did one-and-a-half days of testing because we did all the jobs, and in the afternoon on Day 2, it got very windy. We used the test to learn the track with the new asphalt. Everything changed. It was also to try some setups on the suspension area. Showa came here with new items, new ideas to try on the bike. We found something that we’ll try at the next round at Cremona next week. Overall, it was quite good.”
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