Xavi on Vierge of greatness
Honda man’s tearful debut podium
Former Moto2 rider Xavi Vierge was close to tears on Sunday as he rode impressively to his first ever World Superbike podium, and Honda’s first since Iker Lecuona grabbed a top three at Assen last year. On what was a very difficult weekend for Lecuona, who was shaken by a Friday morning highside which summoned the demons of his crash here last year, teammate Vierge rode fantastically as anarchy reigned in Indonesia.
The superb result for the Honda Fireblade also marks the first time a bike with ‘Super Concessions’ has finished so high up the order. The new-for-2023 rule allows for manufacturer-specific updates for those who struggled last year, in Honda’s case this being significant geometry modifications to the head angle and pivot position.
“I’m the happiest man on Earth right now,” said the 25-year-old, “I’m just missing my family and my girlfriend. Australia was very difficult but Honda have given me an amazing bike to recover the speed and confidence. We’ve got better race by race and here we are on the podium!”
Vierge has become the 128th rider to claim a WSB podium and the 13th from Spain in a list topped by Alvaro Bautista (63), Carlos Checa (49) and Ruben Xaus (35). He is now the leading Honda rider in the championship, courtesy of respective seventh and sixth place finishes prior to his podium. Lecuona’s best was ninth in Race 2; his weekend becoming far more difficult when he lost his best qualifying time due to waved yellow flags and had to start the opening pair of races from 16th spot.
Courtesy of Vierge and Kawasaki’s Alex Lowes, seven riders have now finished on the podium across two rounds – only three fewer than the number of podium finishers across the whole 2022 season.
‘I’m the happiest man on Earth right now’