Honda has a raft of upgrades in store for its RC213V as it prepares for the 2022 MotoGP. To work the kinks out of the heavily-revised prototype race machine, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and Stefan Bradl joined the Superbike World Championship (WSBK) pre-season test at Spain’s Jerez Circuit on January 26-27, 2022. Following the two-day session, HRC and Bradl flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the MotoGP Shakedown Test at the Sepang Circuit.
While the team and test rider arrived at the circuit in time for the three-day test, Bradl’s bike and gear were marooned in United Arab Emirates. With no time to spare and a host of new components to test, the HRC team scrambled to assemble a makeshift RC213V from the available parts at the Sepang track. As a result, number 6 missed the first day of the Shakedown Test, but he was back in action the following day.
