[kropotkin thinks...] - Powerful, Physical - Takaaki Nakagami Talks 2019 Honda

[Ninjette Newsbot]

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Having taken a 2018-spec Honda to a career-best fifth so far this season, Takaaki Nakagami jumped at the chance to try the factory's 2019 machine during the Catalunya MotoGP test. It didn't disappoint.

While complaints have been raised over the front-end feel and physical nature of a bike that only Marc Marquez can currently master, Nakagami found it was more than compensated for by advances to the engine and aerodynamics. The Japanese rider set his best time during '3-4 runs' on a factory machine of team-mate Cal Crutchlow, putting him seventh overall on the timesheets (+0.588s), as the next best Honda behind world champion Marc Marquez.

Since the engine-freeze rules prevent Nakagami switching to the latest Honda during the season, there were several theories as to why HRC invited the LCR rider to try the new bike, rather than focus on improving his own race machine. Nakagami later confirmed (see below) that HRC wanted some fresh feedback on the 2019. That's despite reams of data already gathered by factory riders Marquez, Crutchlow, Jorge Lorenzo and test rider Stefan Bradl.

The conundrum faced by HRC is that while the 2019 bike is spectacularly successful in the hands of Marquez (four wins, two seconds and a 37-point title lead after seven rounds), Crutchlow and Lorenzo are only tenth and 15th in the world championship. Nakagami is eighth.

While mulling over a new chassis on Monday, Marquez - who has scored 25 points more than this time last year - underlined his satisfaction with the bike: "When you feel good and are winning races, before you make a big change you need to be patient and understand everything well."