Official Programme Indian GP 2023 | Page 55

HONDA

There was no dressing up how disastrous 2022 was for Honda . Marquez and new team-mate Joan Mir were , therefore , entitled to expect big changes in preseason . Both were disappointed . HRC brought a new engine , which had a higher top speed than what it used in ’ 22 . But the RC213V ’ s major deficits remain , with Marquez complaining he still feels far from comfortable when braking to enter the corner . And they remain miles off Ducati on corner exit . Positives included new Technical Manager Ken Kawauchi , formerly of Suzuki , bringing a better organization to affairs than before . Marquez also spoke of his physical condition being greatly improved compared to the previous five preseasons . But Honda appear as far from the top as they were in the autumn of last year . Its factory men have raced a chassis made by Kalex in recent races . But the injuries suffered by Marquez , Mir and Alex Rins in the first half of the season demonstrate how perilous it is currently to take the ’ 23 RC213V to its limits . It will take a lot more than the aerodynamics updates raced by their men in Austria to get them out of this hole .
IndianOil Grand Prix of India | 55