Alex Rins reckons that Honda’s tricky 2023 MotoGP-specification RC213-V machine is “not so bad”, and that an improvement in the aerodynamic properties of the bike could solve its current issues.
Rins joined the LCR Honda squad for 2023 having been left out of a ride at the end of ’22 following the conclusion of Suzuki’s premier class operation, a move that many expected would be tough for Rins given the recent struggles for the bulk of Honda’s pilot’s to tame its aggressive RC213-V bike.
The Spaniard has managed to get on well with the prototype so far though in his opening races with it, Rins securing a shock victory in the Americas Grand Prix before then ending Friday practice at Mugello for the Italian GP in third overall and less than a tenth-of-a-second adrift of Francesco Bagnaia’s factory Ducati.
The five-time premier class race winner revealed in an interview with Austrian publication Speedweek that he felt the Honda is “not so bad” compared to what he expected when moving from the Suzuki GSX-RR, which was known to be one of the easiest and best balanced machines on the grid.
He outlined the Honda’s relatively under-developed aerodynamic setup – certainly compared to the solutions brought by the European factories of Ducati, Aprilia and KTM – as the RC213-V’s chief weakness, which manifests mainly as a lack of traction as a result of the bike lifting its front wheel on corner exit more than its rivals.
“The motorcycle (RC213-V) is not so difficult to drive. It’s not super easy, but I expected it to be a bit more difficult. It is not so bad,” said Rins.
“From my point of view the main problem at the moment is on the aerodynamics side because we have a lot of wheelie bias and we don’t have enough support at the front and not good traction when we right the bike up.
“I have more trouble turning and struggling to feel the support on the front wheel. And yes, the win in Austin was a big surprise. I wasn’t expecting to win that weekend but I like the track and we prepared the Grand Prix pretty well.”
