Marini: Copying Ducati

Honda's new signing Luca Marini has urged the Japanese manufacturer to be patient as it appears they are once again starting the new MotoGP season on the wrong foot.

Honda is trying to break a drought in which it has achieved just one victory in two years and has not won a title since 2019.

During the 2024 HRC Com RC213, Honda has made great progress compared to its predecessor and is still behind competitors at the start of the new season.

"I believe that we did it, I tried everything necessary." Try it, we understood many things," said Marini after the last day of testing in Qatar.

"So now we have a lot of data and we can prepare well for the GP. 

“It seems like we are still far away, but the sensations on the bike have improved.

“So on the one hand I'm happy, but the difference is certainly very big, especially if we want to put new tyres, the soft tyres, we can't use them. Good."

Marini added that he didn't expect Honda's rivals to make the change, which they did during pre-season testing, and asked to HRC to be "patient." because sooner or later "it will arrive".

"As regards our performance, I didn't expect big improvements from the others, considering the lap times we achieved here [in Qatar] and also in Sepang are incredible," he said after finishing the last test in 20th place.

“As far as the return time, I think it was pretty standard. We are in this moment where we have come a long way, we must be patient. We will get it. »

Thanks to dealership rules, Honda can test freely with its riders all year round and upgrade its engine all year round. Season.

Currently rear wheel grip remains Honda's problem, with Marini underlining that the lack of traction prevents it from maximizing the bike's attack time and at the same time at the same time lead to braking problems. 

"We are not that strong in braking, especially when we install a new soft rear wheel," he explained.

“We can't use the rear tire, I don't know why, to stop the bike when braking, so Ducati uses it a lot and can gain a lot of time."

"So to try to adjust the lap time you have to drive differently, and I adapt, I grow.”

"Today [last day of testing] I rode a lot more Honda style than yesterday, so it's good." I will definitely try to do more at start of the GP.

“Grip and better use of the rear tire [is what we need]. Only on the rear. On the rear at the entrance, in the middle turn, exit.

“Now we just need to focus on this part of the bike because that's where we need it most.

"There are certainly other things that are missing elsewhere, but at the moment it is the grip that allows us not to go fast and fast with the soft rear tyres, but also at speed on used tyres. That's why we have to improve in this area."