HRC BHP BOOST
Bautista buoyedby Blade’s power
HRC rolled out the heavy artillery, which arrived in the old Repsol Honda MotoGP trucks, as the team’s Barcelona-based mechanics and Japanese staff attended last week’s tests. Leon Haslam and Alvaro Bautista have completed numerous tests but this was the first time the all-new Fireblade had accompanied fellow World Superbike machines. The most amusing rumour to date is that Bautista broke the Portimao lap record at the end of last year despite the Spaniard not even being there; he skipped that particular test to witness the birth of his daughter. Nevertheless, judging by rider comments and speed trap figures, the new Honda is producing remarkable amounts of bhp. Last Wednesday in Jerez, Haslam topped the speed trap timesheets as onlookers struggled to remember when a Honda last went quickest. “Normally, with any new bike, wet weather highlights all the issues: throttle connection, engine braking and so on,” Haslam said. “I went P1 on my first lap. The feeling was good but we’re not bothered about one-off times; we have lots to work on. ” Journalists were instructed by the team not to ask anything ‘too technical’ as a real air of secrecy remains. Even chirpy Bautista was answering questions in a politicianlike manner, with the words ‘It’s difficult to say’ proving the most popular phrase.
“I’m very surprised by the amount of horsepower,” laughed Bautista, who is adapting to an inline fourcylinder after racing the V4 Ducati.
‘I went P1 on my first lap. The feeling was good’