Despite saying that the lap times are a bit slower than he expected, following the Shakedown in Sepang, Luca Marini is still excited to see Honda’s evolution as it became better than in the final tests of 2023 in Valencia, adding that all riders are also having the same comments on the bike. He also asked for work ‘especially in acceleration’.
Still trying to understand how to take the best out from the RC213V, Marini is working on finding what suits him better and he told quoted on Crash.net: ‘You never make two runs in a row with the same bike. You change a lot of things, not only to find the best performance at this track in these conditions but for the rest of the season. It’s a different way to work. I’m also pleased all the Honda riders are working in the same direction, we agree on everything’.
There is growth, he assured, recalling he didn’t like of wha the 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, sincerely. There were many areas to work. While here everything is going in a good direction’.
Marini then pointed some areas in which work must have been done, highlighting that ‘every area’ needs intervention:
– But still we need to work on every area, especially in acceleration on exit from the corners, on more grip from the rear, so we need to work a bit on this. Also on the aerodynamic side we are, not behind, but with a bit less experience than the other manufacturers who are inventing many things in this moment. I gave good feedback and ideas to the Japanese. I expect a lot from them.