Takaaki Nakagami talks about the same old Honda problems and puzzles himself as to how he stays motivated – “We’re not improving, the result is always 20th place “
The Italian Grand Prix highlighted Honda’s situation. At Mugello, the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer failed to score a single championship point – for the second time after Austin in the 2024 MotoGP season
“It’s the reality,” sighs Takaaki Nakagami. “If nobody crashes, then we’re at the back. In a few races we’ve scored points because some riders have crashed in front of us. If five riders crash in front of us, then we collect one or two points.”
“But if nobody crashes, then we’re 19th, 20th, 21st, which is obviously disappointing. There is no feeling on any weekend that we could make it into the top 10. If we can score a point, then we have to take it with us.”
Four 14th places are Nakagami’s haul so far. After seven race weekends, Joan Mir is the best Honda rider with 13 championship points. Mir was even able to score a point in a sprint. But Honda is clearly the slowest of the five brands in the field.
New aerodynamics were recently introduced. But Nakagami speaks plainly: “If the bike goes straight, then it’s a good bike. But as soon as you come to a corner, it gets really difficult.”
“This bike is really difficult. The main problems are always the same. The bike doesn’t stay on the line, you are constantly pushed to the outside. The new aerodynamic package hasn’t changed anything. Only the top speed has improved.”
“As soon as I step on the gas, there is no grip. I explain the same thing to the team every weekend. The feeling on the bike is the same every session. That’s not good at all, but it’s the reality.”
“I am not an engineer. I tell them every weekend what the main problem is. They have understood that, but it’s not easy to solve it. We are not improving. It takes time, but I can’t wait until the end of the season. That’s the problem. “
There were no new developments for the Monday test in Mugello. “We have no ideas and no new parts in our pockets. Nothing,” says an annoyed Nakagami. New developments for the two racing teams are not due until after the summer break.
How do you stay motivated in a situation like this? “I don’t know. I’ve asked myself the same thing,” the Japanese rider replies to this question. “I don’t know how to keep attacking. It’s really disappointing.”
“We work like crazy, but the result is always 20th place. We’re right at the back. That’s not a good situation for Honda and the riders. We give everything on the track. You do crazy things on the track with the bike, but it never pays off.”
“Of course, I want to be the best Honda rider in every session to show my potential. I have to do that. But I don’t want to be in 20th place all the time, I also want to make it into Q2 to have a strategy for the race.”
“Now we can’t do any strategy at all. When you’re outside the championship points, there’s no point in playing poker. We have to wait until a competitive bike arrives so that we can fight in the top 10.”
In Mugello, Zarco was 31 seconds behind as the best Honda rider. Has Honda hit rock bottom? “Last year was the toughest year,” compares Nakagami. “But when I look at the results now, it’s even worse. It’s not just me, but all four Honda riders. It’s really difficult. “
