Honda debuts new double-element tail section in Buriram MotoGP test

Honda has been trialling a number of things to overhaul its beleaguered MotoGP bike and one such innovation appeared on the RC213V during the opening day of the Buriram test.

Its top points scorer from 2024, Johann Zarco, tested a new rear section on his Castrol-sponsored bike on Wednesday - an upgrade to the design first seen in Sepang last week. The aero solution has evolved with the introduction of wings and a rear spoiler. 

The image taken in the Buriram pitlane shows two vertical flaps that offset each other to create an airflow system that pushes the air inside and makes the rear wing more efficient. 

The cantilevered upper profile - named the ‘flap tower’ - seen in Malaysia has been dropped in an attempt to make the rest of the tail work better. This should help generate more downforce while also reducing drag at the same time.

In Sepang, Honda faced a 7km/h top speed deficit to Ducati so the engineers at the team have started working on finding ways to plug the gap quickly. 

Of course, the Honda engine is down on power compared to its rivals, something it is working on, but there are also other areas it can find more performance from.

Johann Zarco, Team LCR Honda

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

It is interesting to see how the lateral bulkheads of the rear wing are bent inwards towards the tail, to direct the flow from the outside towards the inside of the bike.

Apart from Zarco, other riders have also been testing new parts, with the Japanese manufacturer splitting the development across its four bikes in Thailand to get as much data as possible before the start of the season in early March.

HRC rider Luca Marini finished sixth fastest in Buriram, with Zarco right on his tail in seventh.

Zarco was pleased with the performance of the bike on new tyres, but felt the step Honda has made is still not big enough to close the gap to the frontrunners.

“I’m so satisfied with this last half an hour when I put a new tyre on and the things were working,” he explained.

“I know I can be fast, so it's good to confirm it. What has been more difficult today is trying to maintain the pace because here the concept of the rear tyre is different than in Malaysia and the behaviour of the bike is changing a lot lap by lap, maybe because of the tyre.

Joan Mir, Honda HRC

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“For this reason it's pretty tough to develop the bike because we have been trying many things again, but we still don't have this big step that says, 'okay, now we will fight, or now we made a step forward’.

“I think we made it [a step forward] because even Marini was quite fast today and when we need to do a lap time it seems we are more competitive than last year. 

“So this is a step. But then we always want more. We will have to see for the race distance.”