English
Italiano
The Indonesia round evokes sweet memories for Luca Marini, who took pole and a podium here last year. A year later, the situation is quite different, with his arrival in Honda and the difficulties of the Japanese manufacturer. Thanks to the double appointment in Misano, the golden wing manufacturer has been able to spend more time on development, especially aerodynamics, which has improved the performance, but above all the mood of the riders and the team, in a season that on satisfaction has been rather short. With the Japanese round just around the corner, it would be important for Honda to consolidate the "small steps forward" on which Luca Marini dwells at the end of the European roundsahead of the season finale.
"This circuit is completely different from Misano, the tyres are different, the situation for me is completely different, compared to last year - Luca Marini tells us - we will have to be smart because everything we tried at Misano might not work here. We have to kind of forget about Misano because there we had so much data and everything was easier, as it was for the others. On Friday we will have to work and figure out which setup details to keep from the last race and which maybe not, trying to find the best possible compromise for these last races. Here the grip on the track will be completely different."
Coming from a month of work on the same circuit can be an advantage in this last phase of the season.
"I think the bike has taken a step forward in general, here we will continue to work on it to see if our level will be at the same as last year, or maybe higher. Having two weekends on the same circuit has helped us have a clearer idea. We are fortunate that our engineers work a lot. Here in Indonesia I took pole last year with Ducati but Taka and Marc were not that far away and the pace was one of the best last season for Honda. So I hope I can fight for good positions and maybe get access directly to Q2."
What steps forward did you make between the two Misano races?
"We worked on a lot of details, especially the new swingarm and the new aerodynamics, which were steps forward for us to be able to improve the feeling on the track, such as corner entry speed. Traction on the other hand is still difficult to solve, I'm talking about corner exit, but we are working on that as well."
The general feeling, however, among the Honda riders is more positive than before.
"Yes, we made a lot of small steps and we were able to arrive at the Misano test with something substantial like the aerodynamics and the swingarm that gave us three tenths of a second. Obviously there is still a lot missing because we are taking more than a second a lap, but the mood has also improved in the box and for the engineers. Which will be important to face these last races that will be stressful, we needed this boost of motivation."
Is there a different pressure for Honda in these races in the Asian context?
"No, the work doesn't change, although we have many more events on the schedule, I don't mind."
Acosta as a rookie put emphasis on how having raced a few years here may be an advantage for him. Can it be for Honda as well?
"No, in my opinion the data is already a lot. When you go to Hungary, maybe it won't start exactly equal but already more level. Here I think Ducati already has enough data, an incredible haul having eight bikes on the track. For them to do one season is like doing three for Honda and Yamaha."
The new Michelin also changed the form factor. Where there was little grip manufacturers like Aprilia had an advantage that now seems to be gone.
"I remember last year every time Honda fitted the new casing they were doing better. This year with the new compound it works better, especially with Ducati. When they change tyres it is always the biggest change for motorsport."
Michelin was supposed to bring the new tyre in 2025 but that was postponed.
"I liked it a lot, I think it can be a help for Honda as well, but it would be an improvement, not an upheaval. Then hearing Pecco liked it too, so maybe it's better that way, they would go even faster!", joked Luca.
In all this, you are also about to become a father.
"I am very happy, everything is going smoothly, if we are lucky I will be able to be there before the Phillip Island race."
