We are confident that a back-to-back test during Friday’s practice at the UK’s MotoGP should be offered to HRC’s wildcard Aleix Espargaro with a new carbon fiber swingarm to Honda’s full-time riders as soon as possible.
Ducati has almost exclusively used carbon fiber Swingarm since the end of 2009, but Honda unveiled the combined design of the MotoGP project 10 years later.
It lasted several seasons before HRC returned to aluminum in 2022, through a partnership with Kalex.
However, due to difficult vibration issues that hinder major advancements in the 2025 machine, the new carbon fiber project was being used for Espargaro’s second Wild Card of the Year.
“We compared carbon and aluminum swingarms in both sessions and I’m very pleased with that,” Espargaro said. “It’s a slight improvement and hopefully, on a truck where you have a lot of vibrations, you can help Joan and Luka a little.
“It’s not easy to test items like this on a race weekend, but I jumped between bikes 1 and 2 and compared.
“Apart from emotions, it’s light, so it’s a good thing and I really can’t wait… This isn’t the worst circuit for vibration, so it’s probably more useful on a circuit where you have more vibrations.
“For me, they have to start producing as soon as possible to take them to the boys in the factory.”
Silverstone has many long corners, but usually triggers chats for Honda Riders, but Espargaro explained that it’s a more of a left turn than a left turn.
“Our biggest problem is that it’s on the left corner, and there’s not much left corner here. It’s a more right turn,” he said.
“I still have a bit of (vibration), but for me the twist on the swingarm on the carbon bike is a little more smooth. So really, I can’t wait. It’s good to test it on Geres, but it was positive here anyway.”
“Nightmare” to identify the cause of vibration
The intermittent nature of chatter makes it difficult to find the underlying cause from left-hand to right-hand to circuit circuits.
I’m sure the swingarm is helping, but I suspect that Espargaro might come from the engine.
“We brainstormed a lot at Romano (Albeciano, HRC Technical Director), so that’s difficult. We’ll talk a lot at Taka.
“This is why we accelerated the Carbon Swingarm test because it’s a new thing that helps and this is why I’m racing here.
“But the biggest problem with vibrations is that you can’t understand where it comes from. And we’re trying a lot of things, so it’s a really nightmare.
“My idea is that it comes from the engine, but if this comes from the engine, it’s very difficult to improve this year, so we’re trying everything.”
The good news was that even without carbon fiber upgrades, LCR’s Johan Zarco was the eighth fastest on Friday and HRC’s Joan Mir took the session to the top before he was pushed 12th.
“Johan had a very good rap, but if I checked the pace of Meal today, it was very solid, I think it was fast enough to compete for the top six.
“Jaune in particular has been impressive at his pace today, so we can take a step forward in qualifying.”
Former Silverstone winner Espargaro was 2.027 years from Alex Marquez on Friday, on the 21st, ahead of LCR Hondalukee’s Somkiat Chantra.
“Even so, when I try to push my limits with soft tires, I make too many mistakes. I’m feeling too stressed! He said.
