Honda MotoGP Team Manager Alberto Puig reckons its 2023-specification machine has some “good potential” within it following Alex Rins’ shock victory in last weekend’s Americas Grand Prix.
The Japanese manufacturer has struggled in recent years as it failed to make significant progress with making its RC213-V prototype more user-friendly for its roster of talent, with only six-time premier class champion Marc Marquez able to wheel it to wins since 2018.
Honda made changes to its technical structure over the winter in order to try and make ground on current trailblazers Ducati – including poaching ex-Suzuki technical manager Ken Kawauchi – though looked to still be on the back foot heading into this season, the marque recently revealing its intentions to have engineering powerhouse Kalex design it a new chassis.
Despite its sub-par run throughout testing, Marquez showed encouraging form in the season opening Portuguese GP event by taking pole position and third in the maiden MotoGP sprint race, before Rins then enjoyed a stand-out weekend at the Circuit of the Americas as he continuously lapped within the top three to secure Honda’s first win of the year.
Speaking in his post-race blog, Puig hailed Honda’s “very positive weekend”, and was satisfied the brand had managed to silence some of its doubters after its “potential had been questioned” in the run up to the term.
“If we look at the end result of the weekend and we have to make a judgement, it is undeniably a very positive weekend,” said Puig.
“A Honda bike won the GP, this is the objective we set out with each weekend and for the past few months our potential has been questioned but today we proved that our bike has some good potential within it.
“We appreciate a lot Alex Rins’ efforts during the GP, his riding, his focus and his performance were what was needed.
“He showed that he is clearly a very fast rider, and we have to also take note and be pleased with the progress and evolution of the bike that we have had in a few races.”
Puig added that while factory rider Joan Mir – who has struggled to get a handle on the Honda as swiftly as ex-Suzuki team-mate Rins – has had a “complicated” start to life at the firm, he has confidence the 2020 premier class world champion will eventually find his way with the RC213-V, insisting the Spaniard had “made a step” with the bike at COTA.
“It is true that Joan (Mir) has a lot more potential and he must continue to improve his relationship with the bike and deepen his understanding, week by week he is making this progress,” continued Puig.
“It has been complicated with some falls, but we as HRC believe his potential is at least the same as Rins because they have been racing together in the same team for many years and you can see the results they had together.
“Sooner or later, Joan will find the last thing he needs to really understand the bike, and he is working a lot with his position of the bike and made a step in America with it.”
