MotoGP 2024, it’s now or never: will Honda be able to exploit the concessions?

Marc Marquez departs, Joan Mir remains, Luca Marini arrives. The Repsol HRC team is the official Honda MotoGP squad, but it is also a team that has been short on results in recent years. Some intense and less than diplomatic meetings with the MSMA have led to the concept of concessions, an attempt to ‘level’ performance between the various manufacturers. On paper, Honda should benefit from this, but it will be the results to do the talking.

The RC213 V in continuous evolution with concessions

To improve everything - the braking precision and corner entry, stability and efficiency out of the turns, acceleration, traction, top speed, the ability to conserve the tyres, and the connection between bike and rider, so that those who climb aboard don’t find themselves having to tame an unpredictable bull.

The RC213 V is very much a ‘work in progress’, the latest version of which was seen during the post-race test at Valencia. When there’s so much material, with more on the way, it takes time to decide what to do – whether to develop it, if it looks competitive, or discard it, if it fails to meet requirements.

We presume the riders are very much involved in the project as it is they who must tackle the races of course. It seems as if they have planned something like 20 days of testing, even 22, but be careful, because it is the results that determine whether or not testing can be carried out. If the Honda were to dominate in the first races of the season, the concessions would be scaled back as a result.

Mir, Marini, Zarco and Nakagami: is Bradl as test rider enough?

Joan Mir, confirmed and with a contract that will expire at the end of 2024. Luca Marini, newly hired and committed throughout 2025. Johann Zarco, holding a two-year contract with LCR and eager for a factory ride. Takaaki Nakagami, loyal to Honda just as Honda is loyal to the Japanese.

Not a bad line up, though there is no clear ‘first rider’. Will the ‘chosen one’ emerge as the races go on, or will there be a new strategy, far from the Marc Marquez modus operandi?! Right now, to be honest, perhaps it might be better to focus on improving the coherence and balance between the riders. Just a thought.

The only certainty is long-time test rider Stefan Bradl. The bosses like his work, the rider quiet when testing and loquacious when he needs to provide feedback and describe the feeling. Fantastic, as are the wildcard races that are planned for him. The question though, is whether the 2011 Moto2 winner is able to take responsibility for all that there is to do?