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Honda is scheduled to unveil its 2022 RC213V race bike on January 14, 2022.

However, the global unveiling will take place without six-time MotoGP world champion, Marc Marquez who is still nursing his injured eye.

Instead, Repsol Honda has confirmed that the event will continue with Pol Espargaro and LCR Honda riders, Takaaki Nakagami and Alex Marquez.

Missing out on the bike unveiling is not an issue for the Honda camp, however, Marquez’s latest diplopia (double vision) diagnosis is still a concern as there is no confirmation if he could make it on time ahead of the Sepang test in February.

The Spaniard suffered the injury at the 2021 Algarve GP, but HRC only reported it as a concussion before the team confirmed the rider is struggling with diplopia.

Nevertheless, we hope Marquez could still make it back just in time for the pre-season test in Sepang or at least given enough time to test out the updated RC213V.

Marc Marquez has been in and out of surgery prior to his comeback at the 2021 MotoGP.

However, despite a strong return to the race last season, he then suffered a training crash and struggled with diplopia (double vision) prior to the penultimate round of the 2021 schedule.

This means Marquez, will need to fight his way back into the game again ahead of the 2022 season.

Just last week, Honda revealed that the Spaniard is adequately progressing on his road to recovery.

However, in the latest update by the rider himself, Marquez can be seen wearing a Red-Bull branded workout gear hence signalling he’s currently
working out to regain some stamina.

While Marquez’s intensify his training, GP One’s Carlo Pernat revealed that the 28-year-old rider will not make it in time for the official pre-season test in Sepang Circuit.

The uncertainty about his health also led Honda to start looking at the prospect of signing Suzuki’s Joan Mir for 2023. While Marquez’s spot with the Japanese marquee is safe through 2024, the move could displace Pol Espargaro.

Nevertheless, looking back at how strong Marquez was despite he was just 70 per cent back to his best last season, the six-time MotoGP world champion will go all out to be ready for the upcoming 2022 season.

Kalendar MotoGP musim 2022 semakin membuka tirai bermula dengan sesi ujian pra-musim di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang pada Februari.

Bagaimanapun, menjelang ujian rasmi tersebut, sudah mula beberapa khabar angin mengenai pasukan dan pelumba di MotoGP.

Dalam satu sesi perbincangan menerusi program Bar Sport, pengurus MotoGP, Carlo Pernat mendedahkan Honda sedang mengintip beberapa pelumba baharu.

“Honda sedang terdesak untuk cuba mendapatkan seorang pelumba yang mampu menghadirkan kemenangan,

“Terdapat dua nama disebut; (Fabio) Quartararo dan (Joan) Mir, tetapi peluang lebih tinggi untuk Mir sertai Honda kerana dia tidak menelan belanja yang tinggi dan dia juga merupakan calon tepat.

“Secara peribadi, senario ini akan ditentukan sebaik sahaja Kejuaraan Dunia MotoGP musim 2022 bermula,” jelasnya.

Bagi Pernat, Honda tidak boleh bergantung kepada Marc Marquez seorang sahaja apatah lagi keadaan fizikalnya masih lagi tidak dapat dipastikan.

“Buat masa ini tiada perkabaran bilakah Marc (Marquez) akan dibenarkan kembali. Apabila tiada khabar berita bermakna tiada perkembangan positif buat masa ini.

“Saya rasa Marquez juga tidak akan terlibat dengan sesi ujian rasmi di Sepang,” tambahnya.

Ujian rasmi MotoGP di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 5 hingga 6 Februari depan.

Honda has decided to abandon Öhlins suspension and Brembo brakes set up for the upcoming 2022 season.

Instead, the big technical change will see HRC to put their faith on Showa’s suspension and Nissin brakes.

HRC did a test with Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge for in Jerez for comparison and after the assesment, the team decided to equipped the CBR1000RR-R with an entirely “Made in Japan” components.

The team previously relied on Öhlins and Brembo until last year but due to the disappointing result, HRC decided it’s best to apply some major changes ahead of next season.

More importantly, Showa boast an important experience in the WorldSBK with Kawasaki while Nissin already equipping the BMW Motorrad machine.

Repsol Honda Team finally issued an update on the current condition of Marc Marquez.

The six-time MotoGP world champion suffers from diplopia (double vision) during a training crash at the end of October.

According to Repsol Honda Team, the Spaniard is currently undergoing a conservative treatment plan whilst doing physical training to prepare himself for the upcoming MotoGP season.

“The Repsol Honda Team rider, who last October was diagnosed with an episode of diplopia after suffering a fall while training for the Portuguese GP, has continued periodic visits to his trusted ophthalmologist to assess the evolution of his vision over the past two months.

“During these reviews, the progress made has been deemed favourable and as a result, Marquez will continue with a conservative treatment plan for the next few weeks.

“Marc Marquez will continue to undergo periodic reviews with Dr Sánchez Dalmau during the coming weeks alongside the conservative treatment plan.

“The situation does not prevent the rider from Cervera from continuing his physical training plan to prepare himself physically for a new season.”

However, the overall statement does not provide a clear insight into the rider’s condition.

Meanwhile, the “conservative treatment plan” is presumably an effort to avoid the need for surgery which could further lengthen Marquez road to recovery.

Nonetheless, it’s good to know that Marquez has resumed his physical training despite it might take a while before he is allowed to train on a bike.

We expect Repsol Honda Team will release another press statement sometime in January ahead of the official test in Sepang.

KTM MotoGP rider, Iker Lecuona, is set to move to WorldSBK with HRC Honda for the 2022 WorldSBK Championship.

The Tech3 KTM rider was heavily linked with a move to WorldSBK after failing to secure a spot in MotoGP for the 2022 season.

Nonetheless, Lecuona hinted that there are a few options on the table in WorldSBK, including a possible move to HRC to replace Ducati-bound Alvaro Bautista.

“We still finalising every point in the contract. I expect to say something at Misano if everything is fine.

“I think I’ve learnt a lot of things for my life too. I’m very happy to have stayed here for two years.

“I don’t know if in the future, I will come back or if I will stay in another Championship.

“I don’t know; I just know I want to continue these performances, to continue to enjoy, to fight with my idols, and then we will see what happen,” said the 21-year-old rider.

Despite his uncertain future at MotoGP, Lecuona still has time on his hand as he is just 21.

Moving to WorldSBK to justify himself as a competitive rider could serve him well and perhaps make his way back to the MotoGP World Championship in a few years.

After winning six world championships with Marc Marquez, 2020 was a complete defeat for Honda with only two podiums recorded, thanks to Alex Marquez.

With the 2021 season opener inching closer, the Japanese outfit is still accessing Marquez’s condition.

“We are currently monitoring Marc’s condition to make sure he returns in great shape, and we are preparing a fast bike for him,” explained Honda Racing Corporation Manager, Tetsuiro Hikita.

The never-ending questions regarding Marc’s availability for the upcoming season opener suggest that the team is ‘looking’ for someone experienced enough to tame the RC213V alongside Pol Espargaro.

Although Andrea Dovizioso’s name came up, the Honda top brass is not confident the rider would be interested.

“If he (Marquez) doesn’t make it back in time, we’ll have Stefan (Bradl) with us, like last year.

“There are rumours that Andrea (Dovizioso) could be joining us, but I don’t think a rider of his caliber would be interested,” Hikita concluded.

The former MotoGP Ducati factory rider and currently unemployed Andrea Dovizioso is said to be in a prime physical and mental state to step up for the injured Marc Marquez in Repsol Honda. That is if HRC wants him to do so, rather than their current test rider, Stefan Bradl. (more…)

After months of inactivity, Repsol Honda MotoGP rider Marc Marquez is now back in training mode after being cleared by the doctors sometime last week. The eight-time world champion posted a post on Instagram of him riding an exercise bike with his right arm covered in armour. (more…)

Pol Espargaro might have gotten one of the best Christmas presents anyone in motorsports has only dreamt about. Although it’s a bit late, all can be forgiven when you’ve spent your morning training hard and coming home to see a Repsol Honda RC213V perched in your living space. (more…)

With the possibility of MotoGP Repsol Honda rider, Marc Marquez, sitting out for the first few races in the 2021 season, some experts in the industry theorised that the team might consider running a three-bike team by including Andrea Dovizioso once again into the mix together with Pol Espargaro. (more…)

HRC announced that they’ll be selling off a limited number of Marc Marquez’s Honda RC213V tail pipe as part of its Racing parts collectibles. That’s right, you can actually own a part of the world champion’s bike BUT it won’t come cheap and there are only a few of them to buy. (more…)

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