The HRC engineers have been very busy since the return to the track of Marc Marquez and it looks like they took some ideas from other bikes lined up on the MotoGP grid. Indeed, at Philip Island, new fins have appeared on the front of the RC213V as well as the updated air intake and the general shape of the front fairing which has also evolved. But what is this air intake for?
The most drastic change we saw on Marc Marquez’s Honda RC213V this Friday was this new aero package. The fins arranged on the seatback are obviously a carbon copy of what Ducati has been using for a few races, but it also helped distract from the bike’s other major changes.
The fins on the front of the bike had already made their appearance on the track during the Misano test, where Marc Marquez returned to the track for the first time following his operation. They are much more similar to those used on the Aprilia RS-GP, with the aerofoils being closer to the Honda’s standard aero package.
The side fairings have also been redesigned, they have a much more aggressive shape in the area where the Repsol text is. Below them, we also note the presence of 2 ducts which direct the flow of air towards the bottom of the motorcycle, like what exists on the Ducati, in order to force the air under the fairing to create a low pressure area in turns and create downforce.
Looking closely at the bike, it turns out the air intake has also changed, a slightly different shape and with a closed lower lip, whereas it looked open on the old fairing. Often times when teams test new air intakes it may mean they are testing a new engine for the following season, but that is not the case here as the engines are sealed for the season. However, this can change the way the air is routed to the engine, and therefore the way power is delivered to the wheel.
Honda is looking to improve rear grip, and by reworking the way the power gets to the rear wheel, it can allow them to find solutions. It should also be noted that Marc Marquez was the only driver on a hard tire at the front, and soft at the rear, while Michelin specified this Saturday that the level of wear of the Soft was high and the probable wear would require very careful management. This did not prevent him from fighting for the podium until the end!
So Honda is hard at work trying to find the right formula to make their all-new RC213V work. It’s been a tricky process so far and it’s only been made more difficult with the absence of Marc Marquez, but since his return to the podium it looks like things are moving faster than expected!