Disclosure: Honda searches and finds nothing / World Superbike Championship

Honda prepared early for the factory’s return to the grassroots world championship. From May 2017 onwards, managers and technicians from Japan regularly visited race weekends to find out how money could be better invested. As a result, they parted ways with their long-time partner Ten Kate and instead sent the Moriwaki team to the World Superbike Championship in 2019 to gather data and information. A year later, the new CBR1000RR-R returned with an official team from Honda Racing Corporation (HRC).

Since then, Honda Alvaro Bautista (3x) and current drivers Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona (1x each) have only achieved five third places. This year, although an updated version of the Triple R has been developed, the gap has become wider.

“We are very far,” insisted Xavi Vierge in todocircuito. “We cannot focus on the details. During the tests we consider many options, both in terms of electricity and installation, in order to have as much information as possible and get clear ideas. Unfortunately, no matter how many big changes we make, the problem remains the same. It is difficult to find solution.”

Vierge seems more frustrated with the aggressive nature of the new Fireblade.

“When you are told that you will have a new motorcycle, you are happy. But as soon as you drive it, you give up,” the Spaniard admitted. “If it was easy, anyone could do it. Ducati has a motorcycle of record in every championship, but it has taken many years for them to reach their potential. We are going through this phase of searching and not searching. We have to keep believing, that’s the only way we can overcome these .”