Aleix Espargaro Urges Honda: "Clearly Better" Carbon Swingarm Must Be Deployed Now
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| Aleix Espargaro, source: crashdotnet |
Aleix Espargaro Urges Honda to Implement "Clearly Better" Carbon Swingarm in MotoGP
Silverstone, UK – In a significant development from the British MotoGP Grand Prix, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) wild card rider Aleix Espargaro has delivered a resounding endorsement for a new carbon fiber swingarm, strongly advocating for its immediate deployment to the regular Honda factory riders. Following an extensive back-to-back testing regimen during Friday's practice sessions at Silverstone, Espargaro's verdict is unambiguous: the carbon component represents a "clearly better" step forward for the struggling RC213V.
The journey of carbon fiber swingarms in MotoGP has been a long and varied one. Ducati, a pioneer in this area, has almost exclusively utilized carbon fiber swingarms since late 2009. In contrast, Honda only publicly introduced a composite design for its MotoGP project a decade later. Interestingly, HRC then reverted to an aluminum swingarm in 2022, partnering with Kalex, in a concerted effort to resolve the persistent handling issues plaguing the notoriously difficult RC213V. However, with the 2025 RC213V continuing to battle stubborn chattering problems, a new carbon fiber project was swiftly brought into play for Espargaro's second wild card appearance of the year.
"We compared the carbon and aluminum swingarms in both sessions, and I was quite happy with the results," Espargaro stated, outlining his testing methodology. "It's a small improvement, and hopefully on tracks with a lot of chatter, this can help Joan [Mir] and Luca [Marini] a bit. It’s not easy to test items like this during a race weekend. However, I tried both bike 1 and bike 2 to compare, and the result was clearly better."
Beyond the subjective "feeling," Espargaro highlighted a quantifiable advantage: weight reduction. "Regardless of the feeling, it's lighter, so that's good and I'm really looking forward… This is not the worst circuit for chatter, so maybe on circuits that have more chatter, this could help even more," he explained. His concluding remark underscored the urgency of the situation for Honda: "For me, they have to start producing it as soon as possible to bring it to the factory." This powerful appeal from an experienced test rider like Espargaro indicates a critical need for rapid development and deployment of performance-enhancing parts within the Honda camp.
While Silverstone's sweeping corners – plentiful on the circuit – typically exacerbate chatter issues for Honda riders this season, Espargaro clarified that the problem is more pronounced in left-hand corners than right-handers. "Our biggest problem is in fast left corners, and here there are not many left corners, more right corners," he noted. Despite this, he still felt some chatter. "I still felt a little bit [of chatter], but for me, the carbon swingarm's torque is a bit smoother. So, I'm looking forward. It would have been better to test it in Jerez, but here the result is positive."
Identifying the root cause of chatter remains a persistent and frustrating challenge for Honda. The intermittent nature of the problem, shifting not only between left and right turns but also from circuit to circuit, has made it incredibly difficult to pinpoint the underlying issue. While confident that the new swingarm offers assistance, Espargaro suspects that the fundamental problem might stem from the engine itself.
"It's difficult because we had many discussions with Romano [Albesiano, HRC technical director]. We also talked a lot with Taka [Nakagami]. I also spoke with Mir… We don't really understand where this chatter comes from," Espargaro admitted, shedding light on the ongoing internal struggle within the team. "That's why we accelerated the testing of the carbon swingarm, because it's a new thing that can help, and that's why I raced with it here. But the biggest problem with the chatter is that we cannot understand where it comes from. And it's really a nightmare because we try a lot of things. In my opinion, it comes from the engine, but it's very difficult to fix it this year if it comes from the engine. So, we are trying everything." This candid assessment paints a grim picture of the technical challenges Honda faces, suggesting a deep-seated issue that may require a more fundamental redesign.
Despite these underlying struggles, there were glimpses of encouragement for Honda. Johann Zarco of LCR Honda managed to be the eighth fastest on Friday, while Joan Mir of the factory HRC team briefly topped a session before ultimately finishing twelfth. Espargaro was particularly impressed by Mir's performance. "Johann did a very good lap, but if you look at Mir's pace today, his pace was very solid. I think it's fast enough to compete for a top 6 position," he observed. "Joan, in particular, can make a step forward in qualifying because his pace was very impressive today."
Espargaro, a former Silverstone winner, finished 21st on Friday, 2.027 seconds behind Alex Marquez but ahead of LCR Honda newcomer Somkiat Chantra. Despite his own position, his focus remained on the technical feedback. "Still, when I tried to push the bike to the limit with soft tires, I made too many mistakes. I was too stressed!" he confessed, acknowledging the personal pressure he felt. "I felt bad about myself because I felt I could go faster."
The ongoing battle with chatter and the search for performance highlight the immense pressure on Honda to deliver a competitive package. The RC213V's struggles have been a well-documented narrative in recent seasons, and while new components like the carbon swingarm offer glimmers of hope, Espargaro's insights suggest that deeper issues might persist. The collective effort of test riders, factory riders, and technical staff will be crucial in overcoming these hurdles. The urgency to produce and implement demonstrably better components like the carbon swingarm reflects Honda's determination to regain its position at the front of the MotoGP grid. The championship is unforgiving, and every millisecond gained through technical innovation, combined with rider skill, can make a significant difference. The coming races will reveal if Honda can capitalize on these promising developments and provide their riders with a machine capable of consistently fighting for top honors.
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