It’s very rare for Takaaki Nakagami to present an explanation that is heavily laced with disappointment during the post-race weekend debrief. However, the fact that only Marini was the ‘survivor’ who was able to finish on Sunday’s race made Taka unable to hold back everything he could. Confide in the media about the journey of the 2024 Honda RC213V, which at the beginning of the year was widely praised for the massive changes in platform and racing geometry concept and of course the livery. the new one is fantastic. But it seems like it was at its lowest point at the American GP. . Last year’s track, when Marc Marquez was absent, a figure like Rins was able to bring the RC213V to victory.
“It is very difficult to talk about the results this weekend because all the Honda riders struggled and were more or less two seconds slower in every lap. We pushed, but the lap time didn’t come. What I can say is that I started well, I gained some positions but I knew it would only last a few corners. Then I went through some corners where I felt the speed or the feeling of the bike was completely different.”
“And then I got lost, lost, lost, at every corner, every lap. Until I had an accident before the last corner, turn 19. Because I had lost the front-end several times a few laps before, I didn’t feel the front-end. And I suspect if I keep pushing, I’m bound to crash.
Unfortunately, three other Hondas experienced DNFs. This is a difficult moment. I didn’t expect this bad moment. No one can solve the problem, no one can fix the problem. So I don’t know. There’s nothing to say. At this point I’m disappointed with the performance of everything. The bikes, we are slower than last year, it’s really incomprehensible. I hope Honda has some ideas that they can examine and analyze thoroughly. I want to achieve something important in Jerez.”
Crazy three days, There wasn’t a single session where we didn’t perform badly, we always struggled at the end. There’s something missing from us. You can even see it from the outside. But the problem is I don’t know. I can’t point the finger at someone and say that’s the problem.”
“Maybe I can say it in 2023, when we mainly complain about the grip at the back. But now of course it’s the lack of grip on the rear, the balance of the bike, the electronics.
This is impossible, this feeling, it is very difficult to ride a motorbike with this potential. Two seconds slower every lap, that’s the mistake. You have to understand that this is the engineers’ job, not ours. All of us riders tried our best, but that’s why the lap times were almost the same. But they have to understand it, hopefully they can find it. Whatever that is ”
Finally, when asked whether a new machine could be the solution, Taka responded “I hope so, but as I said, I can’t say where this low potential comes from. Maybe it’s the engine, and the engine solves the whole problem. I also hope so. But right now I can’t say because the engine alone can’t determine balance, front-end or grip at the rear. There are too many problems right now.”
