Takaaki Nakagami: Klartext zur unfahrbaren Honda / MotoGP

As reported on SPEEDWEEK.COM this week, the United States Grand Prix was another low point for the Honda MotoGP teams. As “lone survivor” – with Repsol driver Luca Marini greeted by teammates Mir, Zarco and Nakagami after the race – the Italian had completed 20 laps on the track in Austin. Like Joan Mir, the Japanese representative of the Honda guard was forced to withdraw involuntarily from the RC213V in the races and GP races.

Takaaki Nakagami is already part of the Honda MotoGP project. Having been promoted from the Moto2 division, the Japanese have been riding Honda Racing Corporation’s V-4 since 2018. Although Nakagami has no impressive results beyond pole position, the 32-year-old has now retained his seat on the machine semi-factory in the pits of loyal Honda partner Lucio Cecchinello. The sight of Nakagami almost ready on stage at the next press conference was even more impressive. Of all people, the most loyal and experienced pilot blew the fuse. The Japanese could not be stopped and several reports made the world’s MotoGP media light up. Here is the original, unabridged version of the protocol from LCR Taka Nakagami’s experiments:

“It’s very difficult to talk about the results this weekend because all the Hondas are trying very hard and they are losing two seconds every lap. We are pushing, but the lap time is not there, and the feeling doesn’t matter at all. What I can say is that I started well, I had a few chances but I knew they would last just for a few corners. Then I hit a few corners where I felt like the speed or the feel of the bike was completely different.”

“And then I lost, I lost, I lost, every corner, every lap. Until my accident before the last corner, turn 19. As I had already lost the front several times a few laps ago, I had no feeling for the front. And I hoped that if I continued I would have an accident. Unfortunately, this is a very difficult time. No one can fix it. I don’t know The desire and the performance of everything. We are slower than last year, that’s not clear. I hope they have ideas that they can analyze in depth. I want to achieve something important in Jerez.”

Was it the toughest weekend in recent years?
“Yes it was. In any case. Crazy three days. There wasn’t a single session where we weren’t bad, we always struggle in the end. There’s something we’ve lost. You can see it even from outside. But the problem is that I don’t know. I can’t point a finger at someone and say that’s it problem.”

“Maybe I could say that in 2023, when we complained a lot about the rear grip. But now of course it’s the lack of grip at the rear, it’s the balance of the bike, the electricity. This is impossible, this feeling, it’s very difficult to ride a bike with this ability. Seconds two slow every lap, that’s a mistake. You have to understand that this is the engineers’ job, not ours. We all push to the maximum, but that’s why the lap times are almost the same Garbage lips), hopefully they can find anything!

Could a new engine be the solution?
“I hope so, but like I said, I can’t say where this little power comes from. Maybe from the engine, and the engine solves the whole problem. I hope that too. But right now I can’t say that because the engine alone can’t solve the balance, the front feel or the grip of the rear. There are too many problems at the moment.”

Joan Mir said he will test the engine in Barcelona, ​​​​​​are you also trying?

“Me? No.”

Where on the curve do you feel worst? Entry, exit, exit?
“We lose a lot in fast corners. But the real thing is going into the curves. As soon as I turn the bike, the front feeling is gone and you can’t imagine how the bike doesn’t turn. It’s absolutely impossible to follow the perfect line. The motorcycle drives differently, on the other hand. Then I force myself using my body position, including the steering wheel, and trying to push myself. But it’s impossible. Driving 20 laps like that is impossible.

At this point the conversation was broken. The Japanese heart rate had already increased in the MotoGP regions.

While Johann Zarco is expressing himself in a calmer way and Joan Mir has not yet lost his confidence despite the same starting point, Taka Nakagami’s situation is clearly in the direction of refusing to work.

Kevin Schwantz, also a visitor to Austin, emphasized in his conversation with SPEEDWEEK.COM that drivers should pay less attention to the manufacturers’ speech protocols and present their thoughts directly. In this sense, Austin showed that the Japanese can also do honest work in this matter.