Honda factory rider Xavi Vierge gives insights into the contract negotiations and blames the chaos surrounding Marc Marquez for the late agreement
Honda took an unusually long time to confirm Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge for the 2024 WSBK season. As early as the summer, team manager Leon Camier indicated that they would like to continue with the two Spaniards. However, it took until the end of October for the final contracts to be signed.
Xavi Vierge confirmed in an interview with AS that the situation in MotoGP was responsible for the long wait. “Marquez’s departure also had an impact on the Superbike World Championship,” explained the Spanish WSBK rider.
“That is the reason why it took us so long to announce the contract extension,” Vierge clarifies. In MotoGP, HRC took even longer to finalize the rider pairing for the 2024 season. Luca Marini was only confirmed as the second rider during the season finale
The world’s largest manufacturer is suffering in MotoGP and WSBK
The 2023 motorcycle racing year was a disappointing one for Honda, apart from a few highlights. The world’s largest manufacturer finished in last place in both the MotoGP and Superbike World Championships. The only bright spots were Alex Rins’ victory at the US Grand Prix in Austin and the win at the prestigious endurance race in Suzuka.
The WSBK project stagnated in its fourth year of existence. “Both for Honda and for us, the goal is to lead Honda to victory in the Superbike World Championship. The goal is not to be in the top 3. The goal is to win,” Xavi Vierge is clear.
“It was a very complicated year,” sums up the Spaniard, who finished on the podium for the first time at the event in Indonesia. “At the same time, the year was also very nice, because I was able to take my first podium in the Superbike World Championship in the second race of the season. That was something special. “
“It was also incredible to take victory in my first participation in the Suzuka 8 Hours, which is so important for HRC,” said the Spanish Honda rider, who wants to be closer to the top of WSBK in 2024.
However, Vierge is also aware that the level of WSBK will be much higher next year “with all the changes and new riders. “We are putting a lot of pressure on the team. We have to turn the situation around in three months’ time,” he says, looking ahead to the start of the WSBK season in February.