P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Honda signs Kalex co-founder Baumgartel for MotoGP programme
Honda has a history of collaborating with Kalex, a German engineering company known for its involvement in Moto2. Last season, Honda commissioned Kalex to provide a chassis for the RC213V, which was ridden by Marc Marquez and Joan Mir. Despite not feeling entirely comfortable with the bike, Honda found value in the information gained from it. Marquez ultimately decided to stick with Honda’s in-house produced bike instead of the new chassis.
However, Honda sees the signing of Baumgartel as crucial to their progression. Following the 2023 season, Mir, Nakagami, Marini, and Zarco tested a new version of the bike planned for 2024. Notably, the 2024 spec bike is around eight kilos lighter than its predecessor.
At the first pre-season test, Baumgartel could already be seen in HRC gear, signifying his role with Honda. This move aligns with the recent strategy of Japanese manufacturers Honda and Yamaha, who have started to incorporate outside expertise in key technical positions.
Baumgartel’s appointment aims to accelerate chassis production and reduce the time between production and testing. He will officially serve as a Technical Advisor and is contracted directly by HRC, while also maintaining ties with Kalex in other projects.
