At the Australian Grand Prix, Honda installed a completely new aerodynamic package on a Marc Márquez bike on the first day of practice. Each driver is allowed to homologate one update in the course of a season. Since that has not yet been the case with Márquez, this possibility existed according to the regulations.
With the concept change of the RC213V this year, Honda has radically changed the geometry and the weight distribution of the bike. In principle, more weight was shifted to the rear in order to generate more grip with the rear tire. That worked.
However, the good feeling for the front wheel has been lost. The turning behavior in the curve is also not optimal. Honda has been working on bringing the bike back into balance for some time.
At Silverstone, Takaaki Nakagami received an aerodynamic update. However, the changes were limited. The Japanese didn’t feel any extremely big differences. Now Márquez got a fundamentally revised aerodynamics package.
The following aspects stand out. The air intake at the airbox is designed a little differently. The winglets are significantly larger than before and are reminiscent of the Aprilia solution. The rest of the innovations are inspired by Ducati.
There are now ducts on the side panels that direct the air downwards, similar to the Desmosedici. And on the hump behind the seat there are two fins pointing up, left and right. Ducati invented that too and Suzuki has already copied it.
Marc Márquez feels positive aspects
“We already have this aerodynamic concept in Misano [beim Test] tried it,” reports Márquez. “I felt positive aspects there. But we decided at the time not to homologate it yet so that Honda could continue working on it.”
“Now we have another evolution. This year we have the problem with a heavy feeling for the front and with turning. We try to solve that with the chassis, the aerodynamics and all those things. An important aspect is the aerodynamics.”
In the morning session, Márquez first rode the standard fairing and then switched to the second bike with the new aerodynamics. The rear fins were removed again in the afternoon practice session. Comparisons were made and information collected.
“We did a mix so we could understand more about it, but it’s very difficult to test on a race weekend because I can’t work on any other aspect of the bike. I rode with the Thailand set-up.”
“I ride with the same base because if you change the balance the aerodynamics can change a lot. I think we will continue with the new aerodynamics tomorrow and I will focus on the bike.”
Sepang becomes real test of aerodynamics
The RC213V’s turning behavior isn’t supposed to be any better, but the new aerodynamics give a different feel, according to Márquez: “It seems like the bike is less tiring to ride at this track. That helps me. With the standard aerodynamics I was too quickly.”
“My best time in FT1 was riding it. In FT2 I worked more with the new package. There are positives and negatives to both. Here we will continue with the new fairing because it’s better for my physical situation.”
Phillip Island is a fast, fluid track. It is therefore not possible to judge whether the feeling for the front wheel has really improved. “The important test will be Malaysia because we don’t have any hard braking points here,” says Márquez.
Marquez ready to sacrifice a good result for 2023
Overall he was satisfied because the new aerodynamics gave a positive feeling. It is clear that Honda and Marquez are working to prepare for the 2023 season. Are you currently sacrificing a good result because you are working for the next year?
“Of course you sacrifice a little. For example, in the afternoon I drove with the hard front tire. In the morning I worked with the middle front tire because I knew that it was the best for aerodynamic tests.”
“But we’re limited on the number of tyres, so I went with it then, although he influenced the set-up a bit. But we’re at a point where we’re not looking for the best result of a weekend.”
“Of course I give my 100 percent, but we also have to understand the future. I put pressure on Honda so that we try things. If I get something, then I have to try it.”
Although Márquez didn’t work on the set-up on Friday, just clocking up some aerodynamic package comparison data, he was quick. In sixth place, he was three tenths of a second behind.
“Another important thing is that I felt good physically right from the start today,” said Marquez. “I’ve felt some progress since Thailand. If you can see that I’ve been active from the first run, then I feel okay.”
“Otherwise I’d wait and just attack for one lap. If I feel okay then I’ll give it my all. If I wake up tomorrow and feel okay then I’ll give it my all again. I hope to keep that level until Sunday. But it can also happen that the level drops a bit over the weekend.”
Nakagami will not receive this new aerodynamics for the remaining races because his legal update has already been homologated at Silverstone. Pol Espargaro and Alex Márquez have not been involved in testing new developments for a long time because both are leaving Honda.