Camier: Honda has 'good direction' for 2022 WorldSBK season

Team HRC manager Leon Camier believes Honda are making significant progress with new riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge ahead of the 2022 WorldSBK campaign. 

Lecuona and Vierge completed their first pre-season test of 2022 earlier this week - the second since joining Team HRC - and although it was scheduled as a two-day test, the team wrapped up their running after just one day. 

With Honda needing a big jump in performance after finishing bottom of the 2021 manufacturers’ championship, there’s no one area that stands out, but instead the entire CBR1000RR-R package needs to take a step forward. 

Despite having two WorldSBK rookies and therefore part of their testing program was to allow for more understanding of Superbike machinery, an intense day saw both riders work ‘a little bit everywhere’ regarding the 2022 bike according to Camier. 

Electronics was highlighted as a particular area of focus by Camier, and one where the team feels it's in a ‘good direction’. 

With testing restricted to just ten days for every team/rider, Honda decided to skip day-two after Vierge and Lecuona finished less than two tenths off day-one pacesetter Alex Lowes. 

Speaking after the test, Camier told the official World Superbike website: "With the testing restrictions in place, it makes more sense to save this day. We got through all of the main items we wanted to test yesterday and also for Iker to test his hand. 

"Everything was good, no problem. With Xavi, we got the main things done and a lot of good feedback and information for the Japanese technicians. 

"We were working a little bit everywhere, but electronics was one of the main things we understood. 

"This is good, it gives us a good direction for the next test and for the rest of the year. Some other items, some little bit more confidential items, but basically everything went very well. We’re looking forward to the next test where we should have a few more items to test again. 

"We are testing some items, for sure. We want to see some comparisons on how things are working and understand for the future what could be a better option with more potential."