Vierge: ‘Realistic targets’ for WorldSBK season to be made after Aragon test
Although winning is the goal for any manufacturer competing at world championship level, especially one with Honda’s pedigree, Xavi Vierge believes more conservative targets need to be set out for his rookie WorldSBK seas🥂on.
The former Moto2 rider, who𓆏 has already completed two tests for Team HRC, will make his official debut during the 2022 🅺season opener in Aragon on April 8-10.
Before then Vierge has at least another 🦂tﷺwo, maybe three tests that he will compete in alongside fellow rookie team-mate Iker Lecuona.
While both riders have loo🌠ked fast during their two outings at Jerez, Honda have only been on-track with Kawasaki, meaning their true pace and potential still need🐼s to be assessed compared to the entire WorldSBK field.
If we go off last season’s manufacturers’ standings - Honda finished fif🦩th (last) and were 320 points behind third-placed Kawasaki - then there’s significant gains to be made in order for Honda to start challenging the likes of Kawasaki, world champions Yamaha and Ducati on a regular basis, which is why Vierge knows expectations have to be ‘realistic’ despite he and the team desperately wanting to win.
Vierge told the official World Superbike website: "For Honda, the team and myself, the goal is to win. But I think it’s not correct to start thinkiღng about that just now. I think the correct way, and the way we are thinking, is trying to forget a bit these goals.
"We focus on each test day, try all the things they have, try to adapt to everything. Take all the information in and♛ then, in the last test at Aragon before the start of the season, we will sit dow🦹n and speak about the off-season and put a realistic target on the season.
"For the fu🌠ture, my go♛al I will say is more or less the same. I think we need to like the present.
"Now my present is here with Honda, in the factory team and it🍒’s a dream. I want to enjoy that.
"I want to work as hard as I can and achieve the best results we can. We all know what our goals are, and w꧅e will try to fight every day to achieve that."
