Honda chasing more ‘lap time’ ahead of 2022 WorldSBK season

Ahead of the new WorldSBK season it’s fair to say Honda are in need of the biggest step in performance after finishing as the only manufacturer without a win in 2021. 

Team HRC finished a lengthy 65 points behind BMW, who themselves were way behind the top three - 255 points down on Kawasaki to be exact. 

The margin from constructors champions Yamaha to Honda was 357 which is not the type of gap that can be overturned overnight. 

The top Honda rider was Alvaro Bautista for the second consecutive season, but the Spaniard still lost a place compared to his final championship position of 2020. 

Bautista finished tenth on 195 points, while team-mate Leon Haslam was a further 61 behind in 13th. 

All this means significant improvements are needed from the team as it goes into its first season with two rookies. 

Former MotoGP rider Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge have already tested the CBR1000RR-R in Jerez, but with ‘lap time’ still missing, HRC Team Principal, Leon Camier, wants to see all-around better performance which starts with ‘electronics, engine and chassis’ gains. 

Speaking to the official World Superbike website, Camier said: "Lap time is missing of course, but we know the areas where we need to work, we still have to improve some areas with the bike for sure. 

"A little bit in every area basically with electronics, engine, chassis. We know the areas where we can improve, so hopefully this winter, we can make some adjustments, we can bring some new parts to the bike and hopefully we can have a good test and understand that we can be hopefully nearer the podium and nearer winning races next year. 

"The winter will be very challenging with two new and young riders who have no experience in this championship, these bikes, tyres, experience with anything. 

"This is something that hopefully I can try to help them with. We will have a very strong structure for the start of the year for testing and we will try to plan everything as best we can to give them the best opportunity to start well."