Published: 12 Aug 2024
Honda Looking to Turn the Tide at Spielberg with New MotoGP Engine
Honda’s performance woes in MotoGP continue. A new engine is supposed to help the Japanese manufacturer turn the tide at the Austrian GP.
Honda’s performance woes continued at the British Grand Prix, where the team managed to secure just two points in the manufacturers’ standings.
Despite efforts during the race weekend, the Honda riders found themselves at the back of the pack once again.
However, there’s hope on the horizon as the Japanese manufacturer is set to bring a new engine specification to the Austrian GP at the Red Bull Ring.
Having been under development since the Barcelona race, it is expected to address some of the critical issues faced by Honda this season.
Joan Mir had already tested a version of this engine and expressed cautious optimism about the upcoming upgrade.
“For me, it was a step back to make two steps forward in the future,” Mir explained, acknowledging the personal performance loss he experienced while testing the engine.
The Spaniard’s expectations are clear: “I want to be closer to the group in front of me. Right now, we don’t have that option.”
He added that he doesn’t anticipate drastic changes to the setup, as the focus has been on improving the engine’s performance rather than continually adjusting configurations.
Johann Zarco echoed a similar sentiment but remained realistic about the impact of Honda’s upcoming upgrade.
“I don’t know how big the progress will be,” the Frenchman said, adding, “If the progress comes from the engine, that would be very nice. But I don’t believe in a big breakthrough.”
