The impossible problem Honda faces with its 2021 MotoGP bike

Honda hasn’t enjoyed an easy start to the 2021 MotoGP campaign, despite gains last season which looked to have carried over into the pre-season. Now admitting it does have issues in serious need of resolving, it faces an almost impossible task in doing so

Lewis Duncan May 11, 2021, 9:53 AM

Upd: May 11, 2021, 1:03 PM

Take a glance at the current world championship standings ahead of the French Grand Prix and you’ll see a sight that should utterly delight Aprilia’s PR department. After four races in 2021, Honda is second from last in the MotoGP constructors’ table, two points behind Aprilia – its points haul basically a one-man effort courtesy of an in-form Aleix Espargaro.

What does this tell us about the pecking order? Well, after four-successive top 10 finishes so far, Aprilia has genuinely brought a package that – with a few more tweaks – can start to knock on the door of the podium. But does Aprilia really have a better motorcycle than Honda?

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Author Lewis Duncan

Lewis Duncan is Autosport's International Editor and primary motorcycle racing reporter. A motorsport fan from a young age, Lewis became interested in journalism when he won the star letter competition in the February 2012 issue of F1 Racing Magazine. A member of the Autosport Academy from 2017, Lewis became a freelance motorcycle racing correspondent for Autosport in 2019 before becoming a full-time staffer in 2020 as International Editor.

While MotoGP coverage is his priority, Lewis also covers World Superbikes and road racing across the Motorsport Network, and hosts the Tank Slappers Podcast. He has also occasionally commentated on 750 Motor Club meetings. Away from motorsport, Lewis is a keen record collector with a collection unashamedly largely featuring Iron Maiden and Rush and an avid guitar player.