English
Italiano
Although a high-side in Mandalika ended Iker Lecuona's 2022 season early, in his first season in WorldSBK the Honda rookie achieved his career-best result, finishing the year ninth overall, ahead of teammate Xavi Vierge , with 189 points and a third place to his name.
Results that don't surprise the Tech3 team owner Herve Poncharal, who only has good words to say about the 23-year-old: “I’m not surprised by what Iker’s doing in Superbike. I’m really happy Iker is doing well and I wish him all the best. We did two challenging seasons together, up and down, but I enjoyed those two seasons. Until the very last race we did everything we could for him, fully motivated- the French manager confided to Crash.net - Iker was not too unhappy because he gave his leathers and helmets to the team. He was also happy because he was not without a job, he had got a full factory seat in the Superbike championship.”
An opportunity that for Poncharal arose precisely from the experience he gained with the satellite team of the Mattighofen-based company and which may not mark the Spaniard's definitive farewell to the MotoGP paddock.
“If Iker hadn’t joined MotoGP, I don’t think he would have had the offer. I still believe the two years he spent with KTM helped him to have a name that was on the radar of HRC and learn how to ride a big bike, which is giving him the chance to shine now - said the IRTA president - I am very happy we brought Iker Lecuona onto the ‘radar’ and I hope he’s going to shine as much as he can. I hope he’s going to grow, win that championship, then either be happy to stay there or eventually come back to MotoGP - he’s young enough to do that.”
That’s quite an outpouring of esteem that demonstrates Poncharal's attachment to the young Spaniard, strongly desired by the Tech3 boss in 2020 as a replacement for Brad Binder, promoted in the factory team to replace Johann Zarco.
“I was left without a rider very late in the season, so I said, ‘I’d like to bet on that young rider; Iker Lecuona’. KTM were a bit scared but I said, ‘Let me do it!’ Iker deserved it - Poncharal said – Iker is a very fast rider. He has a lot of talent. He is a beast and can master a lot of bikes, including a MotoGP bike.”
But the below-par results, and the fight between Gardner and Fernandez for the middle class title, proved to be decisive for Lecuona's fate, as he was excluded from the team at the end of 2021:
“2021 was a bit of a disappointing season for Iker compared to 2020, and there was the possibility to take the riders that were first and second in Moto2. There were a lot of discussions, and the decision was taken. That doesn't mean nobody trusted Iker’s potential. Sometimes you have to take a decision, right or wrong - commented the Frenchman, who in the same year put in a good word with Alberto Puig - I spoke with him last year at Silverstone and he asked me a lot of things about Iker. I told him honestly only good things, including that I would do it if I were him.”
