In the first part of Motorsport Week’s look at the 2020 MotoGP season, Honda take centre stage as it looked to reclaim glory after losing arguably its greatest asset-Marc Marquez-to injury early on.
As MotoGP returned to the track following its enforced delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic-the season starting five months later than scheduled at Jerez in August-expectations were that we would be treated to another round of Marc Marquez vs Fabio Quartararo, the latter now with a years experience under his belt.
As it turned out, Marquez and Honda’s march to a fifth straight riders title ultimately morphed into a battle just to prevent a winless 2020 campaign, while the latter would struggle with an inconsistent M1.
First up is the tale of Honda, with Marquez was up to his usual tricks in the season opening Spanish Grand Prix, pushing his RC213-V to the absolutely edge as he sought to start the year at the head of the rostrum.
The Spaniard had been lucky to get away with a lurid low-side shortly after snatching the lead of the contest away just a few laps in, dropping to 16th as a result.
The world then played witness to one of the six time premier class champions customary fight backs as he sliced all the way through the field until he had the second position of Maverick Vinales well in his sights.
Another error would prove one too many though as he this time high-sided after asking for a smidge too much grip from his rear tyre, sending him flying through the air before crashing down onto the tarmac before coming to rest after tumbling through the gravel.
Marquez was stretchered away from the scene of the accident, before it was later confirmed that he had fractured the humerus in his right arm-meaning he would have to miss the following weekend’s Andalucia GP at the same Jerez venue.
Further problems after allegedly causing yet more damage to his arm while opening a window following an attempted return for the Austrian GP ultimately ruled out Marquez for the rest of the year, while further complications since season end have thrown his ’21 plans up in the air too.
Marquez’s side-lining was only the start for Honda, as three-time premier class winner Cal Crutchlow-the Brit having scored all three competing as a factory contracted racer with Honda satellite outfit LCR- also ran into problems after fracturing his wrist in practice for the Spanish GP, forcing him to skip the encounter.
With its two most competitive entries now effectively down, the rest of Honda’s ’20 campaign’s hopes were laid at the feet of MotoGP rookie Alex Marquez and the second LCR machine of Takaaki Nakagami, while test rider Stefan Bradl would spend most of the year getting acquainted with being a race rider again as he replaced Marquez for the rest of the year.
The trio would largely struggle to match Marc’s pedigree, though Nakagami would make an impressive step forward after managing to convert several aspects of Marquez’s unusual aggressive riding style into his own, translating into a clear speed improvement with the RC213-V.
A possible podium in the Styrian GP went begging after running into an unlucky red flag, while a late-season purple patch of form-alongside reigning Moto2 world champion Alex-laid down the red carpet for a first win of the year for Honda.
Marquez scored an impressive debut rostrum appearance with a stunning ride to second in the French GP, before backing this up with another runners-up result in the following race at Aragon.
Not wanting to miss out, Nakagami came out swinging for the second Aragon event, remaining at the sharp end of the timesheets all weekend before banging out a debut pole position in the class.
His race speed looked strong too, setting up a tantalising battle with Petronas SRT Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli.
Heartbreak was to follow just five corners into the race though as Nakagami let the pressure take control, losing the front of his machine after overdriving the entry of Turn 5-retiring in the gravel and leaving Honda’s victory hopes in ruins.
The Japanese manufacturers day failed to improve, as Marquez dropped his own bike while trying to chase down Joan Mir for a third successive podium, leaving Honda empty handed heading into the final triple header.
Honda’s dream of at least a sole win unfortunately died as the season came to a close in Portugal, Nakagami crashing shortly after moving into third in the Valencia GP while Alex’s form seemed to regress after several crashes over the final few rounds.
So an up and down year for Honda then, and with Marquez looking to be out of action until May at the earliest, all its chances of glory continue to rest on Nakagami and Alex, while new signing Pol Espargaro will be looking to prove his worth in Marc’s absence as Honda gun for a return to the top of the podium in ‘21.
