Honda and Yamaha seek gains at a private test at Mugello
The Honda and Yamaha teams benefit from a private test at the Mugello circuit in Italy this Wednesday as part of the concessions allowed under the MotoGP rules for 2024. The test comes at a crucial time for the Japanese manufacturers as they seek to resolve ongoing problems on their bikes ahead of the upcoming races in Barcelona and again at Mugello later this month.
Several notable riders are taking part in the test, including Repsol Honda’s Joan Mir and Luca Marini, LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco and Takaaki Nakagami, as well as Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins. Test riders Stefan Bradl (Honda) and Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) are also present, along with Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori.
Challenges and adaptations
This test is vital for Honda and Yamaha, who have experienced significant problems in the latter stages of the championship. Yamaha’s Alex Rins reported continued problems at Le Mans, highlighting braking issues and corner entry instability. “When I was driving alone, it was with the problems we had all weekend—problems with stopping the bike with the brakes and a lot of skidding when we go into turns,” Rins said.
Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami tested a modified wing at Le Mans, while Johann Zarco pointed to a lack of rear grip as one of the main problems. Zarco stressed the need for a fundamental change in bike design: “But there’s a bigger problem, like the base of the bike, the heart of the bike. Well, the heart is the engine, and I don’t mean it’s the engine, but I mean the DNA. The bike needs to change to give us a second wind.
Despite the challenges, there are signs of progress. Highlighting an improvement in race pace at Le Mans, Joan Mir said: “It was great to be able to take another step with the set-up and have a good pace in the race.” However, Luca Marini cited a lack of cornering ability and acceleration with the Honda RC213V, areas the team hopes to improve during the Mugello test.
The presence of experienced test pilots like Bradl and Crutchlow is essential, as they bring valuable technical knowledge that can speed up the development process. The involvement of Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori also points to a wider collaboration to share information and find solutio
The private test at Mugello represents a crucial opportunity for Honda and Yamaha to correct their course in the 2024 MotoGP championship. With the next round in Barcelona and another at Mugello just around the corner, the Japanese teams are under pressure to make significant improvements. The ability to solve braking, grip, and handling problems could be the change needed to regain competition on the track.
