That is the newest transfer within the restructuring course of that the Japanese model goes by way of, which began greater than a yr in the past and can almost definitely not cease with the departure of Kuwata, who will turn into a part of HRC’s automotive division.
The chief, who will stay in his submit till 1 April – which is when the Japanese company calendar is reset – shall be changed by Taichi Honda, who comes from the off-road division, and who had lately taken cost of the workforce that competed within the Dakar Rally.
Though Honda is at pains to emphasize that this transfer just isn’t a response to the poor outcomes of its MotoGP groups in recent times, it’s troublesome to consider that the sporting hunch, coupled with the departure of Marc Marquez, had no affect on the choice.
On this regard, it’s price noting that Honda’s final victory was achieved by Alex Rins at the US Grand Prix final yr, and that the producer completed final within the constructors’ desk, with 11 fewer factors than Yamaha, regardless of having twice as many bikes.
Marquez, at Motegi, secured the second of solely two podiums celebrated in 2023 by HRC riders previous to saying his departure to Gresini Ducati.
Alex Rins, Workforce LCR Honda, on his strategy to victory at Circuit of the Americas
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs
Kuwata has been related to the MotoGP undertaking since 2010, when he joined as a improvement technique engineer, transferring in 2016 to the position of basic supervisor of all racing divisions.
Kuwata’s departure follows that of Shinichi Kokubu, Honda’s technical supervisor in MotoGP till final season’s Japanese Grand Prix, when he was changed by Shin Sato who was named chief technical officer.
Earlier within the winter, Honda determined to maneuver technical director Takeo Yokoyama to the corporate’s headquarters in Tokyo, with Ken Kawauchi now occupying the position.
Honda is immersed in a whirlwind of adjustments that goal to return the model to the highest in MotoGP, having gone with no title since 2019.
With 20 days to go till the 2024 MotoGP season begins, Joan Mir and Luca Marini – Marquez’s substitute – are nonetheless on the lookout for that lack of traction that already appears endemic within the RC213V.
