Regardless of exhibiting some spectacular indicators of restoration over the winter, and benefitting from a brand new concession system that got here into drive this 12 months, Honda has struggled to make a lot progress firstly of the 2024 season.
Approaching this weekend’s French Grand Prix, it sits on the backside of the constructors’ standings on simply 13 factors, having failed to interrupt inside the highest 10 even as soon as through the opening 4 rounds of the 12 months.
Honda has been engaged on a brand new ‘lab bike’ whose growth is led by check rider Stefan Bradl, however each manufacturing facility rider Joan Mir and Johann Zarco had been unimpressed with the way it behaved on observe – with Zarco even going again to the previous-spec bike on the latest Jerez check.
Talking about Honda’s latest run of kind, Puig stated the workforce continues to be determining the place it ought to be heading with the event of the RC213V.
“If we will perceive the path to go, we will attempt to take steps ahead,” he stated. “After all, most of the stuff you uncover are usually not automated. You most likely will not be capable to use them within the subsequent grand prix, however you can begin getting ready different elements.
“We have now to proceed doing what we’re doing. We’re working exhausting. Honda isn’t sleeping, that is one thing I’ve to say. The one sure factor is that now we have not but been capable of finding the path we hope and wish.”
Puig’s remarks are in distinction with the feedback made by race rider Mir, who felt Honda had discovered a ‘clear path’ with its MotoGP idea on the post-Spanish GP check. That was regardless of the 2020 champion additionally rejecting the ‘lab bike’, which he had ridden beforehand in a personal check.
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Puig made it clear that Honda is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to return to the entrance of the grid and is now benefiting from its complete four-rider roster to check new elements, that are being launched at an more and more speedy charge.
The Japanese marque has additionally been working intently with its satellite tv for pc team LCR this season, which implies each new recruit Zarco and protege Taakaki Nakagami have a job to play in shaping the RC213V.
“I can say roughly what now we have been saying in latest months: We try many, many issues, and we’re looking for an answer as a result of we’re nonetheless not clearly the place we need to be,” he stated.
“We have now 4 riders and we try to make use of all of them to strive various things. So everyone seems to be attempting various things. We’re looking for the very best mixtures, after all.
“Stefan Bradl examined the bike and we collected quite a lot of information. The sensations had been good. It isn’t unhealthy. It isn’t good, there are issues to enhance.
“I am unable to give a selected remark, however I feel the Jerez check is essential, as a result of now we have all 4 drivers attempting various things, totally different mixtures, and on the finish of the day we may have some vital conclusions.”