MRW Issue 27
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
NEWS DESK<br />
2022 IN REVIEW:<br />
Honda World Superbike<br />
Big changes came to Team HRC for<br />
the 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World<br />
Championship season, with two rookie<br />
riders and changes to both the suspension<br />
and brake providers for the Japanese<br />
manufacturer. Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge<br />
joined the team for 2022 and scored one<br />
podium and one pole position between<br />
them, with both riders finishing in the top<br />
ten of the Championship, and Team HRC’s<br />
Team Manager, Leon Camier, reviewed<br />
the season as a whole after racing had<br />
concluded in Australia.<br />
Looking at the whole 2022 campaign,<br />
Camier discussed the arrival of Lecuona<br />
and Vierge into the team as well as the<br />
decision to switch providers; a decision<br />
which was first revealed in pre-season<br />
testing. The team’s one podium came<br />
courtesy of Lecuona at Assen in Race 2,<br />
as he took advantage of drama ahead<br />
of him to finish third, while he also took<br />
the manufacturer’s first pole position in<br />
WorldSBK in six years.<br />
Reviewing 2022 and discussing Honda’s<br />
progress, Camier said: “It’s been definitely a<br />
lot of progress. With two rookies, we were<br />
confident they could come in and perform<br />
well but also the base of our package<br />
became a lot more stable this year, I would<br />
say. There were quite a few changes, as<br />
we know, from suspension and brakes<br />
and these things which were quite a few<br />
unknowns. Our idea was to do it now and<br />
try and progress and to develop everything<br />
for future profits. In general, I think the<br />
year’s gone very well. We were really fast<br />
many times with both riders. Many top sixes<br />
and a podium; it was a little bit gifted, but<br />
we had to be there to fight for it anyway.<br />
In general, I think it’s been a good year and<br />
we’re quite confident the future will keep<br />
progressing. It’ll take time for sure. It’s not<br />
something we turn around in one day. Japan<br />
are working hard but they’re not super-fast<br />
to make changes always and, when they do,<br />
they want to make sure it’s to the right way.