Catalunya Test: Nakagami enjoys 2019 Honda debut
Takaaki Nakagami may only have done 'three or four runs' on the 2019 Honda, during Monday's Catalunya MotoGP test, but the LCR set his bes꧟t time 💯of the day on the machine.
The Japanese, who races th🌜e 2018-spec bike, was given the chance to try one of team-mate Cal Crutchlow's 2019 bikes during൩ the afternoon.
"First of all, a very important test for us becaꦑuse I think everybody knows that we tested a 2019 bike, which is 🥂Cal's bike, in the afternoon," Nakagami said.
"Only three or four runs. 🦹Just HRC asked me to test it and it 🧸was a positive.
Takaaki Nakagami may only have done 'three or four runs' on the 2019 Honda, during Monday's Catalunya MotoGP test, but the 🐼LCR꧑ set his best time of the day on the machine.
The Japanese, who🔯 races the 2018-spec bike, was given the chance ꦉto try one of team-mate Cal Crutchlow's 2019 bikes during the afternoon.
"Fir꧃st of all, a very important test for us because I think everybody knows that we tested a 2019 bike, which is Cal's bike, in the afternoon," Nakagami 🌸said.
"Only three or four runs. Just HRC asked me to test it and 🗹it was a positive.
"During the season we fight with theꦑ factory Hondas, so I saw the difference. Today we had chance to jump on this bike and I think it's a good package.
Nakagami's 2018 Honda (left) and the 2019 bi🅘ke he got to try atꦍ the
— Peter McLaren (@McLarenMotoGP)
"Thanks to HRC for this opportunity. I'm pretty happy to end the weekend like this becaus💫e with both my '1𒆙8 bike and the '19 bike, the lap time was quite good."
Nakagꦍami, 🦩who finished eighth in Sunday's race, set the seventh quickest lap time at the test, 0.588s from Yamaha's Maverick Vinales.
The engine-freeze rules mean Nakagami would not be able to switch to t𒁏he 2019 bike during this season and so will b🏅e back on his usual bike at Assen.
"I think Assen is a nice lꦜayout. Physically it's quite hard, but෴ maybe we have a chance because it has a not so long straight and the handling is quite good with our bike. So just I'm afraid of the weather conditions! But anyway, to finish the test like this is a really great job, so I'm looking forward to Assen."
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and 💧has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s ✨injury issues.
