Honda is not following the best path to be competitive, that’s what Johann Zarco implied after testing the bike that Stefan Bradl will use this weekend in Jerez. The Frenchman, former Ducati rider, saw ‘nothing positive’ and asked the Japanese manufacturer to put this model ‘aside’.
The Frenchman finished the Jerez tests in 20th place, and at the end he did not hide his frustration with what he tested and was very clear: ‘I tested the bike that Bradl raced with this weekend. I would say that we couldn’t take anything positive from this bike. There’s only one aspect where it seems to be better than the other, but the times don’t show up’.
For Zarco, this is not the bike specification that will bring Honda back to the top, not even a little closer to the competition: ‘It’s not a bike with which you can say: “Well, we took a step forward”. At least we gathered a lot of information that can be useful, it’s important to understand which direction to go, it’s very difficult to find a balance with this bike that allows us to be fast’.
Still, ‘there is no drama’, he assured, but at the same time he made a request to Honda: ‘Honestly, I was expecting to take a step forward with this bike, but there is no drama. At least I have the fact that last weekend I took a step forward to be closer to our rivals with the bike we have, so now I will focus on Le Mans. It’s not the right path. If the bike has to offer certain characteristics and, after so many changes, those characteristics don’t come, it’s time to put it aside’.
