Monday’s post-race take a look at at Misano was seen as a vital second for Honda in its hopes of convincing eight-time world champion Marc Marquez to honour his contract for 2024.
However after the preliminary take a look at of the primary 2024 RC213V prototype, which centered largely on a brand new chassis, Marquez admitted Honda was “still far” from the place it wanted to be if this bike was to be the bottom for subsequent yr.
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Honda didn’t have a brand new engine to check on Monday, with the chassis Marquez and Joan Mir attempting having been raced by HRC wildcard Stefan Bradl through the San Marino Grand Prix.
When requested by Autosport if his impressions of the bike had been the identical as his team-mate’s, Mir famous: “Properly, in some areas we improved. For certain, we didn’t make a giant step, we’re removed from it.
“I might really feel slightly bit higher with used tyres particularly, I used to be in a position to be a bit extra constant.
“That’s okay, but it surely’s solely the primary take a look at. We noticed one thing Positive.
“I nonetheless can not say if will probably be the way in which we take for subsequent yr as a result of we have to put every thing on level. But when we wish to be the place we wish, we’d like a bit extra assist.”
Joan Mir, Repsol Honda Workforce
Picture by: MotoGP
Given the brand new chassis may very well be used with the present Honda engine, Mir didn’t rule out the prospect of racing the body for the rest of 2023.
“That is one thing I nonetheless don’t know, as a result of I don’t know on the finish of the day what shall be my determination from it,” he mentioned of racing the brand new body in 2023.
“But when it goes as we plan, why not? I mentioned this season was extra like a testing season, so why not?”
Mir added that Honda’s most important problem of rear grip was “barely higher” on the brand new chassis, as was its braking and turning capabilities.
Marquez and Mir’s subsequent take a look at of the bike is ready to be in November in Valencia, however the latter just isn’t satisfied that if a brand new engine is lastly launched will probably be a giant change.
“Properly, each assist shall be very, very welcome,” he replied when requested if he was shocked Honda hadn’t introduced a brand new engine to the Misano take a look at.
“But it surely’s true that if we missed attempting a brand new engine right here, they’ll most likely have much less time to develop for the following take a look at in Valencia.
“It might be higher if we might get a brand new engine as we speak to attempt to perceive one thing.
“But when it’s not like that, we’ll deal with what we now have. In all probability in the event that they didn’t convey any engine right here, it implies that the change they’ll make won’t be very big, as a result of if this new bike can stick with the identical engine means the change won’t be huge.”