Honda has earlier historical past of working with Kalex, a German engineering firm that’s predominantly concerned in Moto2 and whose chassis are utilized by nearly all of the grid.
Final season, Honda commissioned Kalex with a provide a chassis for the RC213V that at time was campaigned by Marc Marquez and Joan Mir.
That supplied the Japanese marque quite a lot of worth, particularly by way of the data derived from it, even when the riders did not really feel fully snug with the bike. Marquez, actually, discarded the brand new chassis shortly after testing it, preferring to make use of the specification of the bike produced in-house by Honda.
Nevertheless, Honda considers the signing of Baumgartel as a key to proceed the development that started on the Valencia take a look at in November. Just some days after the tip of the 2023 season, Mir, Taakaki Nakagami and new recruits Luca Marini and Johann Zarco had been capable of take a look at a totally new model of the bike deliberate for 2024.
Probably the most notable distinction on the 2024 spec bike, which was examined after the San Marino Grand Prix final 12 months, is an total weight lack of round eight kilos in comparison with the earlier mannequin.
This Tuesday, which marked the beginning of the primary official pre-season take a look at of the 12 months, Baumgartel may already be seen wearing HRC gear.
The addition of the German technician is in step with the technique that each Japanese marques Honda and Yamaha have lately utilized.
Traditionally reluctant to depend on components from outdoors the borders of Japan for probably the most technically related roles, Yamaha signed Massimo from Ducati for 2024 as its new technical director. Beforehand, it had additionally recruited Marco Nicotra, once more porached from the Borgo Panigale producer, to fortify its aerodynamics division.
The arrival of Baumgartel at Honda, who in parallel together with his new function will proceed to be linked to his firm Kalex in different tasks, is a sign of the Tokyo producer’s new-found willingness to alter its strategy.
With this recruitment, Honds desires to hurry up the manufacturing of chassis and cut back the lead time between manufacturing and testing.
He’ll formally function a Technical Advisor and is contracted straight by HRC.
