Vierge: Honda's progression 'is clear, working in the right direction'

Xavi Vierge believes Honda are making 'clear' improvements ahead of the 2022 WorldSBK championship. 

The former Moto2 rider has so far completed three days of testing with his new team, which has consisted of testing last year’s 2021 spec Honda against the new 2022 spec bike that has undergone a change of suspension following Team HRC’s decision to drop Ohlins for Showa.

Vierge, who also tested new electronics, Nissin brakes and headstock during the second of two Jerez tests, has concluded that the 2022 bike is easier to ride and that every item they try ‘is an improvement’. 

Vierge added: "The progression is clear. At the moment we used the test to try many, many things. Of course, the good points is that Iker [Lecuona] and myself have more or less the same feedback. 

"They also have feedback from the riders before. Honda is working in the right direction and every item that we are trying is an improvement. 

"So comparing both bikes, I can say that the new bike is an easy bike to ride, of course, we need more days to take advantage of that potential. But for sure, we are going in the right direction." 

Along with attempting to learn the Honda CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE, Vierge also has the challenge of adapting to a 1000cc Superbike for the first time after having only ever competed in Moto2 at world championship level. 

But despite the power increase being a ‘big jump’, the former Petronas Sprinta Racing rider doesn’t believe it’s a problem and that extracting its full potential is the aim over the next pre-season tests.

"Of course, it’s a big jump and I feel a lot more powerful, but I didn’t feel like this was a problem, just the opposite," said Vierge. "The power is there and we need to understand how to take profit of that." 

Vierge and fellow Team HRC rookie Iker Lecuona will test twice more ahead of April’s season opener in Aragon (8-10).