Honda launched a brand new aero fairing onto Takaaki Nakagami’s LCR-run bike on the British Grand Prix two weeks in the past, with the bundle resembling KTM and Ducati’s design philosophy.
For this weekend’s Austrian GP, each Marquez and team-mate Joan Mir have the brand new package, with the previous spending Friday’s follow periods operating the {old} bundle back-to-back with the up to date one.
Although feeling like he was getting “higher and higher” all through the day on the brand new aero, Marquez mentioned it has compelled him to trip the RC213V differently – however one wherein its key points, primarily the bike’s poor acceleration, stays.
“Right this moment was a really demanding day mentally, as a result of with this new aero, the best way to trip the bike is totally completely different,” Marquez, who ended Friday in 13th after getting blocked by Pol Espargaro on a late flying lap in FP2, mentioned.
“I’ve gotten used to the Honda for a few years, and particularly final yr and the primary half of this season, and now this aero was utterly completely different.
“However I used to be so concentrated to take the advantages of this new aero and adapt my driving fashion. Step-by-step I used to be in a position to do it, and each run I used to be higher and higher.
“It’s true I used to be the one Honda rider who was leaping from one aero to the opposite. In truth this morning I did just a few errors, nevertheless it [the new aero] modifications the braking level lots, modifications lots the best way to method the nook.
“This afternoon once I jumped to this new aero, my staff did an excellent step and I began to really feel higher and higher. I made a decision to maintain this new aero for the time assault.
“Within the first one, I used to be too on the restrict, actually. On the bike I really feel too on the restrict.
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Group
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“It’s a distinct driving fashion, completely different method to the corners. However the primary issues are the identical.
“Within the acceleration particularly, it’s one in every of our weak factors. Not the wheelie, due to this aero, however the [rear] spinning.”
Marquez admits his method to testing aero is sacrificing outcomes, however he’ll proceed to hold out back-to-back comparisons on the following Catalunya GP.
“Every field decides on a plan,” he added, when requested if Mir ought to have carried out the identical testing method as him.
“It’s true that in our field we all know that from the numbers the brand new aero ought to be higher on this circuit as a result of it’s stop-and-go.
“However even like this I choose to sacrifice the outcome a bit and attempt to give good info to the engineers.
“For that purpose I did the back-to-back [comparison] and tomorrow I’ll have each bikes with the brand new aero, as a result of right here it has extra efficiency.
“After which in Catalunya circuit, once more I’ll back-to-back to attempt to perceive [the new aero] in quick corners.
“It’s not the easiest way to realize an excellent outcome, however I imagine it’s an excellent method. The method in the present day was no threat and I simply pushed the final two runs of FP2.”