Lecuona: WorldSBK and MotoGP ‘completely different, I have to start from zero’

Ahead of his rookie WorldSBK season Iker Lecuona has admitted he needs to start from zero due to the differences between Superbike and MotoGP machinery. 

Lecuona, who has had just one-and-a-half days of WorldSBK action under his belt - suffered a crash and left hand injury on day-two of December’s Jerez test - will lead an all-new Team HRC line-up alongside fellow Spaniard and former Moto2 rider Xavi Vierge. 

The two former grand prix riders replace Alvaro Bautista who has re-joined Aruba.it Ducati and Leon Haslam. 

For Lecuona it’s a step away from MotoGP after spending the 2020/21 seasons with Tech 3 KTM. Therefore it also means a switch away from prototype bikes to the more standard Superbike, a change he believes is different in every aspect.

When detailing the exact differences between Superbike and MotoGP bikes, Lecuona said: "In general I think it’s 100% completely different. We have electronics in Superbike but it works differently to MotoGP and also the engine is more a standard engine I would say. 

"It’s not a prototype. The tyres are not a prototype like Michelin. I go with Pirelli and with Pirelli I have a lot of shaking on the straight. 

"You lose the grip very early; maybe after five laps you have grip and then you need to ride the bike with it spinning and being sideways. The line is completely different because the chassis is more soft. 

"You have more movement when you go on the straight, but with the MotoGP you can go a bit more smooth when you use the tyres. I think it's totally different, so for me this is a big challenge. 

"Also the brakes… the brakes in MotoGP I go with carbon disc, even on a wet track these brakes have crazy potential. Now I have like a standard brakes; very good brakes but it is not the same. It’s a big challenge for me because this bike is also heavier."

Despite having two years of MotoGP experience and four in Moto2, Lecuona is still just 22 years of age which currently makes him the second youngest WorldSBK rider. 

And although Lecuona has more experience at world championship level than fellow Superbike rider Axel Bassani who is the same age, Luca Bernardi (21) who like Lecuona is a 2022 WorldSBK rookie and even an established rider like Garrett Gerloff, the Valencian admits he needs to ‘forget’ everything he knew from MotoGP and instead start from ‘zero’.  

"I’m very young, I come from the GP and I’m one of the youngest in this category," added Lecuona. "For sure, I need to take more experience on the bike. WorldSBK is completely different to MotoGP, also the team management is completely new. 

"In my case I think it’s important to try and forget all that I know from MotoGP or Moto2 and start from zero. 

"The first day (Jerez test) I didn’t touch any electronics and in the MotoGP I used this a lot. I think I have a lot of potential to learn fast, but there’s also the new tracks; I think it’s six tracks that are new ones for me."