Honda introduced a new aero fairing onto Takaaki Nakagami’s LCR-run bike at the British Grand Prix two weeks ago, with the package resembling KTM and Ducati’s design philosophy.
For this weekend’s Austrian GP, both Marquez and team-mate Joan Mir have the new kit, with the former spending Friday’s practice sessions running the old package back-to-back with the updated one.
Though feeling like he was getting “better and better” throughout the day on the new aero, Marquez said it has forced him to ride the RC213V in a different way – but one in which its key issues, mainly the bike’s poor acceleration, remains.
“Today was a very demanding day mentally, because with this new aero, the way to ride the bike is completely different,” Marquez, who ended Friday in 13th after getting blocked by Pol Espargaro on a late flying lap in FP2, said.
“I’ve gotten used to the Honda for many years, and especially last year and the first half of this season, and now this aero was completely different.
“But I was so concentrated to take the benefits of this new aero and adapt my riding style. Step by step I was able to do it, and every run I was better and better.
“It’s true I was the only Honda rider who was jumping from one aero to the other. In fact this morning I did a few mistakes, but it [the new aero] changes the braking point a lot, changes a lot the way to approach the corner.
“This afternoon when I jumped to this new aero, my team did a good step and I started to feel better and better. I decided to keep this new aero for the time attack.
“In the first one, I was too on the limit, honestly. On the bike I feel too on the limit.
Source: Autosport