HOW WILL THEY TURN THIS DIRE SITUATION AROUND?
Upping support
The hiring of Ken Kawauchi from Suzuki at the start of 2023 addressed the disorganisation, and opened communication to the factory. There have been other notable changes, too. HRC General Manager Tetsuhiro Kuwata has been relocated this year, while divisive long-time HRC Director Shinichi Kokubu was moved on last October, with Shin Sato brought in.
There was also a serious recommitment from HRC President Watanabe last summer. Suddenly a greater number of engineers were present at the track toward the end of 2023. “They’re increasing manpower and the number of engineers involved in the project,” says Cecchinello. “They’re really focused on making it happen.”
“I see many new faces,” said Bourguignon at the end of last year. “A lot of people from R&D. They have clearly invested in the aero studies in Japan. It’s clear we now see some engineers that aren’t just specific to the chassis; they’re specific to aero.” Honda built a completely new bike in the two months between the Misano and Valencia tests, and it’s believed it weighed in at 8kg less than its predecessor.
Tapping into a wider pool of experience
It was no coincidence Honda’s two new riders for 2024 have experience aboard all-conquering Ducati machinery. Honda are hopeful Luca Marini and Johann Zarco can provide development direction. “Johann is not a beginner,” says Bourguignon. “100% he’ll be able to give us some direction to help us understand where we can improve our bike.”
Marini has already offered up advice on how the aerodynamics engineers can improve the bike. “They started with new people, aero engineers that are new for this year. And I gave them good ideas,” the Italian said at Sepang. And one of the few bright spots of the Qatar test was an improved aero package all riders liked.
Honda are also calling upon Alex Baumgartel, the genius behind Kalex’s Moto2 domination. In his role as Technical Advisor, Honda hopes he can aid chassis development.
Working as one
Ducati’s success doesn’t just lie in having the best bike. General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna regularly checks in on their satellite men, What’s more, all eight riders can compare data. In the past, Honda’s approach hasn’t always been so joined up.
Yet Takaaki Nakagami noted how Honda are now debriefing and pooling information with all four riders. “The factory and satellite teams are a unit,” he says. “Japanese engineers come to our garage more often. I felt it’s more like one Honda family.”
Bourguignon agrees. “We’ll try to be more open between all of us to share development, to do back-to-back tests and comparisons when we choose the direction, so it’s not a ‘maybe’ direction; it’s a ‘sure’ direction.”
One Honda insider noted an increased presence of HRC office staff during preseason, as they bid to strengthen communication between track and factory. This also includes the test team taking on greater responsibility as they seek to take advantage of their new concessions for 2024.
Honda still trail Ducati by some distance. But at least they are addressing their weaknesses.