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Honda's 2022 RC213V Prototype - A Deep Technical Dive Into HRC's Radical New Bike

By David Emmett | Thu, 23/09/2021 - 21:34

What MotoGP manufacturers change on test bikes for the future reveals a lot about what they feel is wrong with their current machines. So for example, at the Misano test, we saw Ducati roll out an updated version of their fairing, narrower and smaller, and consequently, likely aimed at creating a little more agility.

Aprilia introduced two different aero packages for high speed and low speed circuits. Suzuki had a new engine and a new chassis, while Yamaha had a different frame and revised engine. All small steps aimed at honing their current bikes into something better, an evolution of the bikes that raced at Misano the previous Sunday.

Not Honda. At Tuesday in Misano, Honda rolled out the latest prototype of their 2022 RC213V MotoGP machine, designed to address some of the obvious weaknesses of their current bike. The most remarkable thing about the machine is the stark and obvious differences between the 2021 bike and this latest prototype. This was no minor upgrade from last year's RC213V, this was a completely new bike, from the ground up. Very little remained the same; revolution, not evolution.

A New Hope

Repsol Honda Team manager Alberto Puig spoke of the bike being "a new concept", and though no one in the HRC camp, neither managers nor riders, would give much detail, the photos of the bike, taken by MotoMatters.com contributor Niki Kovács, speak for themselves.

Puig did admit just how different the bike was. "I can only tell you that changes were major changes, they were big changes in the way we approach this new prototype," the Repsol Honda team manager said. "So of course we have to be confident, and especially very excited about the new challenge we have in front of us to change a little bit the concept and to improve the performance."

Marc Marquez emphasized that a new bike brings with it a lot of work to start to make it competitive. "It's a new bike, it's a new concept. It was interesting, it was the first time on track, so a lot of work to do and a lot of time in the box, and not many laps trying big things," he said.

Getting a change as big as this right first time, Marquez pointed out. "It was a big step in both directions. In some areas, a really good direction, and in some areas missing a lot." But this was the first attempt, and there was a lot of work still to do. "We need to understand the bike balance, we need to understand the setup, we need to understand many things, because there are many new parts, it's not only small things, it's a big thing."

Pol Espargaro felt much the same way. "The bike feels good, but it's a brand new bike. It needs to keep developing until the preseason of next year. Still a lot of time so there is margin to improve." The fact that there was only one prototype to be shared among the three Honda riders – test rider Stefan Bradl, as well as the Repsol representatives Marque and Espargaro – also forced them to be extra careful. "It was important to stay on the bike, because we only have one bike," Marquez pointed out.

So what is new about the 2022 prototype? And what conclusions can we draw. The best way to do that is to use the 2021 Honda RC213V as a benchmark. The scrutineering sticker for Misano on the photo below says this is one of the bikes used by Marc Marquez at the Misano round.

And below is a photo of the 2022 prototype, shot from the side, which reveals a huge amount of details. You can clearly see that almost everything is new: frame, fairing, seat unit, exhaust. And there are details which strongly suggest a new engine too. Let's dive into the details of what we can see.

Let's start with the frame. At the front of the frame, you can see a large gap at the headstock, where the air intake passes through. The routing of the air intake is much less intrusive on the 2021 bike, and no doubt the change is related to the new air intake on the front of the bike. More of that later.

To read the remaining 1533 words of this article, you need to sign up to become a MotoMatters.com site supporter by taking out a subscription. You can find out more about subscribing to MotoMatters.com here. If you are already a subscriber, log in to read the full text.


This is part of a regular series of unique insights into the world of motorcycle racing, exclusive for MotoMatters.com site supporters. The series includes interviews, background information, in-depth analysis, and opinion, and is available to everyone supporting the site by taking out a subscription.

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2021
MotoGP
Misano, Italy
Honda
Marc Marquez
Stefan Bradl
Niki Kovacs
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To read the rest of this article, you need to sign up to become a MotoMatters.com site supporter by taking out a subscription. You can find out more about subscribing to MotoMatters.com here. If you are already a subscriber, log in to read the full text.


This is part of a regular series of unique insights into the world of motorcycle racing, exclusive for MotoMatters.com site supporters. The series includes interviews, background information, in-depth analysis, and opinion, and is available to everyone supporting the site by taking out a subscription.

If you would like to read more of our exclusive content you can join the growing band of site supporters, by taking out a subscription here. If you prefer, you can also support us on our Patreon page and get access to the same exclusive material there.

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Comments

Great article!

amigodocafe
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

This here is pure gold and the reason why a subscription here has a huge ROI. Thanks David, what a great article!

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top content!

tmtk
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

top content!

Machine looks strange at first, but hopefully it'll run fast.

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Ducati style long. Hadn't

mtiberio
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Ducati style long. Hadn't realized Yamaha had gone that way, and now Honda. 

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Great analysis!

SATX_west
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Renewed my subscription only yesterday and already getting my money's worth!

I wonder if such lithe winglets will flex at high speeds? I know shape-shifting aero is forbidden, but a certain amount of flex is to be expected when these machines really get going (as seen when the front wheel covers buffet in the wind in those amazing slo-mo shots of the Mugello straight). Could it be that they design a certain amount of winglet flex to offer aero benefits for both cornering and high speeds? Seems like I've read about this phenomenon before, probably here.

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Exhaust flapper valve

Helmet22
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

I notice the exhaust flapper valve on the tail exhaust is sometimes there, sometimes not in the images, for all 3 riders as well. There is a LOT of testing going on, big and small.

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Thank you David and Co! Best

Motoshrink
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Thank you David and Co! Best by quite a margin out there, going to re-read tonight.

Best moto porn ever

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Analysis like no other

lotsofchops
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Definitely not getting this level of detail anywhere else. Really, really cool to see the side by side comparisons. So many details I wouldn't have even noticed if you didn't mention them!

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Ribbons on the Honda

als02
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Hammerhead shark on the Aprilia !
As everyone says - your technical and paddock insights really make this site worth the subscription !

I wish I had access to the Honda garage !

I got to see Vale's Yamaha and Ducati up close a few times at PI.

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Apples and Oranges

Lucas Black
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

If all the photos are representative of the 2022 machine while it was under use by Marc, then it is interesting to see that the front forks are a good handful of mm's higher set through the triple clamp than his 2021 Misano race bike.  Potentially an immediate indication that the new package might, by default, 'require' a different geometry to be optimal -- further supporting just how radical a change this new machine is.

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Great stuff

larryt4114
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Thanks, Mr. Emmett.

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Super spy report!

crankophile
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Thanks, David, super report, also the other companies will read this with a lot of attention. But it was Petrucci who baptized the contraption as ''salad box'', if I am not mistaken. Could you do a series on all manufacturers? Very, very interesting. 

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Thank you David

chrisj
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Very Interesting.

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Weird observation. The air

Poseidon
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Weird observation. The air intake is so tall that, after the Repsol branding, there is very little space for the rider numbers. 

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Fugly

D999
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

As all new concepts generally are, she's a bit nasty looking from an aesthetic point of view in my mind. But technically she's an absolute glamour. 

I can't wait to see how this project shakes out. Thanks David & Co.

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Great stuff, David! So the

ColonelClaw
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Great stuff, David! So the new Honda is basically a cross between the Ducati and the Aprilia. How times have changed

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Great article, love to see

jochen.vancauw…
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Great article, love to see HRC prototype machinery and them throwing the kitchen sink at it.
Hope it will put them more in the mix again at the front.

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This is the dope. Been

spongedaddy
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

This is the dope. Been drooling over the words and photos. Thanks, David and Niki.

High on the dreams of what may unfold for HRC, Marquez, future riders not named Marquez and future HRC riders not currently on their payroll. What might partially balance the pressure and grind of being involved in the circus is being intoxicated by the dizzying glitter that motogp has become. 

A good drug.

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How different

Ibis117
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

does it have to be, before it becomes an RC214V ?

 

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In reply to How different by Ibis117

Only via change in engine

Motoshrink
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Only via change in engine displacement evidently. Odd, eh?

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Thanks

turbine
1 year 4 months ago
Permalink

Tops as usual.

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