Mike Leitner on Dani Pedrosa’s Honda prototype

Thursday, 11 February 2010
The Repsol Honda rider’s chief mechanic takes motogp.com through the main changes to the 2010 version of the RC212V machine.


As with all the bikes that will line up on the MotoGP grid for the first race in Qatar on April 11, the evolution of the factory Honda RC212V that Dani Pedrosa will race this year is a process which is constantly being worked on.
The Spaniard rode the new version of the bike for the first time at the Valencia test last November, and continued its development at the first test of 2010 at Sepang last week. His chief mechanic Mike Leitner took some time out to guide motogp.com through the changes that have been implemented.
“This is a modified version of the bike we already tested at Valencia towards the end of 2009,” explained Leitner to motogp.com in the attached video. “The biggest difference from the 2009 bike is the change in suspension. We will use Öhlins suspension this year so we have to work hard to find the correct setting for that. Also, the engineers in Japan have been working very hard on the new engine regulations so with the maximum of six engines for the season this is quite a tough job. We will see how we can manage that.”
Looking at the aims for the new season with an overall view Leitner outlined what else needs to be addressed in the two tests, again at Sepang (February 25-26) and in Qatar (March 18-19) before the opening race at the Losail circuit.
“We have to improve the general performance of the bike. We have a handicap in braking and turning so we need to try and find a better balance in the bike with the chassis set-up. We are modifying our engine control so we’re working hard on this,” he said.”
“The tests have started so it will be a very busy workload to manage and fix everything in the six test days before the first race in Qatar.”