The recent performance of Honda at Circuit of the Americas suggests that this may have been their worst weekend in the premier class. Last year, Honda had a win with Alex Rins, but this time their newer version of the RC213V was not competitive. Honda finished last in all sessions, except for Q2, for which none of their riders qualified. They did not score any points, becoming the first manufacturer to do so since Honda at Silverstone last August. Honda team manager Alberto Puig admitted that they are not heading in the right direction and that the bike is not performing well. The riders are clearly unhappy with the situation.
There were mixed reactions from the riders after the races at COTA. Joan Mir tried to stay positive, Luca Marini was emotionless, and Johann Zarco preached optimism. However, Takaaki Nakagami seemed the most agitated and disappointed. He described the moment as difficult and unexpected. Nakagami expressed his disappointment with the bike’s performance, stating that they are slower than last year, which he finds impossible to understand.
The comparison between the lap times of the 2023 and 2024 RC213V at COTA further highlights Honda’s difficulties. The newer version was consistently slower than its predecessor. Only one Honda rider managed to finish both races, while the others crashed or had technical issues. Mir described the situation as desperate, and Nakagami expressed his frustration, stating that they are lost and getting slower with each lap.
Pilots mostly agreed on the reasons behind Honda’s difficulties. The bike is not performing well in tight corners and lacks agility. Despite improvements in areas such as acceleration, the loss of strengths has not been adequately compensated. Mir suggested that a solution may be needed on the engine side, but also acknowledged that there are other issues with the balance and electronics of the bike.
Nakagami’s reaction is particularly understandable considering his uncertain future in MotoGP. As the third oldest rider on the grid, there are doubts about his career continuing beyond this year. Despite his competitive performances, he is not getting the results he deserves. His disappointment reflects the disappointment and grim reality of Honda’s early season.
