Honda is heading into the third WSBK season with the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade. After two mixed years with Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam, Honda has radically restructured the WSBK factory team and signed two new young drivers. With ex-MotoGP rider Iker Lecuona and ex-Moto2 rider Xavi Vierge, the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer also wants to celebrate successes in the Superbike World Championship.
In recent years, Honda has struggled to improve the Fireblade. One hurdle was the testing limit of ten days per season. With the exception of the official Dorna test before the season opener in Aragon, the WSBK teams are only allowed to test on ten days this year, which means that test days are often not fully used from a strategic point of view, even if the weather is good.
MotoGP implemented the concession benefits a few years ago to give the less successful manufacturers a chance to catch up. Unlimited testing with regular drivers is one of those benefits. Now only Aprilia has these advantages. KTM and Suzuki lost claim after achieving wins and podiums.
Superbike: Honda would like more freedom in development
HRC team manager Leon Camier hopes that Honda and BMW will also receive such advantages in the Superbike World Championship. “That would be good, to be honest. There is such a rule in MotoGP,” explains the ex-racer as part of the team presentation.
“It’s really difficult to make any decent progress when the rules are so strict,” commented Camier. “It would be important to give new manufacturers and new teams a little more freedom. That would have advantages.”
“It would definitely help,” Camier says. “We would like to test as often as possible, but it’s not realistic that you test every day. If we didn’t have restrictions, then we wouldn’t just ride to ride. We would do the testing for new parts and it would depend on what happens in Japan.”
Why Honda parted ways with Öhlins and Brembo
More testing would also be beneficial given the technical changes to the Honda Fireblade. During the winter, Honda decided to switch to Showa and Nissin. Kawasaki has already demonstrated how good Showa suspension is. Nissin brakes were last used only by BMW.
“We feel that Showa is working hard behind the scenes to improve the products. With the exception of last season, they have won six titles in a row. The quality of Showa is beyond question,” Camier explains the change of suspension manufacturer.
“That also applies to Nissin. We have the impression that they have developed strongly. We want to be a part of it. We did comparison tests. The starting position was already good. We would not have made the switch if we had not seen the potential “, describes Camier.