With the new concession system in MotoGP, Honda is planning to use it strategically all season long. After a disappointing performance for a few seasons, the Japanese manufacturer encountered more difficulties in 2023, both in terms of results and because of the substantial lineup revisions they had to make. They suffered major losses when six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez left for Ducati and Alex Rins, who had won just one race the previous season, signed with Yamaha.
Honda is determined to take advantage of the new concession system despite these obstacles. Honda and Yamaha have a leg up in the competition because they can have limitless private test days with their race riders, which allows them to continue improving their engines while their competitors' development is locked. Honda has taken a strategic decision to prioritise testing, and sources say the company has methodically arranged a private test calendar with up to 22 outings.
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The team has signed Johann Zarco and Luca Marini from Ducati, but they don't appear to be able to solve their problems very soon, despite Marini showing promise at the Valencia post-season test. Honda and Yamaha will both be granted more testing time under the concession system to help them improve their performance after their disappointing results. On top of that, unlike their competitors, neither manufacturer feels restricted in their ability to advance engine development.
MotoGP: Honda Looking For Second Test Rider
Currently, Honda's test programme is being led by Stefan Bradl, and the team is looking to hire another full-time MotoGP test rider to help with testing. It is critical for Honda's testing goals to hire a second test rider, even though Bradl is a regular in wildcard appearances and may participate in as many as five race weekends in addition to his testing duties.
Riders with extensive testing eligibility, like as Luca Marini and Joan Mir, have limited testing opportunities due to their racing obligations, making this shift all the more important. There are currently no plans for riders like Johann Zarco and Takaaki Nakagami to take on extra testing tasks for Honda, although it is possible that they could.
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During the week of January 22, Stefan Bradl and the test team will begin their first testing session in Jerez, which will coincide with the World Superbike teams. Mir and Marini are likely to be present during the collective shakedown at Sepang in the first week of February, which will take place at the same time as the official presentation of HRC garage members in Japan.
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