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LCR MotoGP team leader Lucio Cecchinnello has stated that Honda "failed to make any progress in development" during the 2020 season when Marc Marquez was sidelined due to injury.
Marquez, an eight-time world champion, along with Honda, ruled the racing scene for a significant part of the 2010s, clinching the championship in 2013-2014 and again from 2016 to 2019.
In 2019, Marquez showcased his dominance by securing victory in 12 races and finishing as runner-up in every other event except for one, ultimately clinching his sixth championship in the premier class with a remarkable 151-point lead over Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso.
However, by this stage, the RC213V was presenting challenges for the rest of Honda's lineup, with only Cal Crutchlow managing to secure a spot on the podium in 2019 alongside Marquez.
After Marquez severely fractured his right arm during the first race of the COVID-19-impacted 2020 season, Honda faced its first winless year in the top tier of motorcycle racing since rejoining the circuit full-time in 1982.
As Marquez continued to struggle with injuries throughout 2021 and 2022, Honda shifted its focus in bike development to accommodate the needs of its entire lineup more effectively.
As of the end of 2024, Honda has experienced three seasons without a victory in the last five years.
In a recent interview with GPOne, Cecchinello, who has been racing Honda bikes in MotoGP since 2006, discussed the impact of Marquez’s injury hiatus on HRC's performance.
"He mentioned that riding the bike with Marc went well; he managed to handle the unique front design of the Honda and opted for a harder tire compared to the rest."
"One instance is the race at the start of the 2020 season; in Jerez, he passed all his competitors, but then he lost control of the front. After remounting, he made an impressive recovery."
"Honda advised us to hold off until Marc was fully healed, but as we all know, there were some unexpected complications."
"While Marc was away, we made no progress on development, whereas the others kept advancing their projects."
"The focus of the work began shifting towards aerodynamics, and in 2021, after participating in several races, Marc shared updates on the advancements made by the team."
At the conclusion of 2023, Marquez departed from Honda due to the lack of progress with the bike's performance, opting to join the Gresini Ducati team for the 2024 season.
In the previous season, he clinched victory in three grands prix, marking his first wins since 2021, and secured a factory contract with Ducati for the year 2025.
