MRW Issue 27

NEWS DESK
2022 IN REVIEW:
Honda World Superbike
Big changes came to Team HRC for
the 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World
Championship season, with two rookie
riders and changes to both the suspension
and brake providers for the Japanese
manufacturer. Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge
joined the team for 2022 and scored one
podium and one pole position between
them, with both riders finishing in the top
ten of the Championship, and Team HRC’s
Team Manager, Leon Camier, reviewed
the season as a whole after racing had
concluded in Australia.
Looking at the whole 2022 campaign,
Camier discussed the arrival of Lecuona
and Vierge into the team as well as the
decision to switch providers; a decision
which was first revealed in pre-season
testing. The team’s one podium came
courtesy of Lecuona at Assen in Race 2,
as he took advantage of drama ahead
of him to finish third, while he also took
the manufacturer’s first pole position in
WorldSBK in six years.
Reviewing 2022 and discussing Honda’s
progress, Camier said: “It’s been definitely a
lot of progress. With two rookies, we were
confident they could come in and perform
well but also the base of our package
became a lot more stable this year, I would
say. There were quite a few changes, as
we know, from suspension and brakes
and these things which were quite a few
unknowns. Our idea was to do it now and
try and progress and to develop everything
for future profits. In general, I think the
year’s gone very well. We were really fast
many times with both riders. Many top sixes
and a podium; it was a little bit gifted, but
we had to be there to fight for it anyway.
In general, I think it’s been a good year and
we’re quite confident the future will keep
progressing. It’ll take time for sure. It’s not
something we turn around in one day. Japan
are working hard but they’re not super-fast
to make changes always and, when they do,
they want to make sure it’s to the right way.