Despite saying that lap times are a bit slower than expected, after the Shakedown in Sepang, Luca Marini is still excited to see the evolution of the Honda, which has become better than in the final tests of 2023 in Valencia, adding that all the riders are also having the same comments about the bike. He also called for work ‘especially on acceleration’.
Still trying to understand how to make the most of the RC213V, Marini is working to find the best possible performance, as he explained quoted by Crash.net: ‘You never have two consecutive races with the same bike. We change many things, not only to find the best performance on this track and in these conditions, but also for the rest of the season. It’s a different way of working. I’m also pleased that all the Honda riders are working in the same direction, we agree on everything’.
There is growth, he assured, recalling that he didn’t like what he felt in Valencia in the first tests with the Honda: ‘Very good improvements compared to Valencia. In Valencia, the feeling with the bike was not so good, honestly. There were many areas to work on. While here everything is going in a good direction’.
Marini then pointed out some areas where work needs to be done, emphasizing that ‘all areas’ need intervention:
– But we still need to work in all areas, especially in accelerating out of the corners, in more rear grip, so we need to work a little on this. Also in the aerodynamic part, we are not behind, but with a little less experience than the other manufacturers who are inventing many things at the moment. I gave good comments and ideas to the Japanese. I expect a lot from them.
