As part of Team HRC’s changes for the 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign, they will run an all-rookie line-up of Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge. In the first part of a two-part interview with WorldSBK.com, Spanish rider Lecuona discussed his move to Honda and WorldSBK, adapting to the Championship and his goals for his rookie season in the Championship.

LINKING UP WITH HONDA: “Something crazy…”

After two years in MotoGP™, 22-year-old Lecuona joined Team HRC in WorldSBK in what he described as a ‘positive’ move for his career, with the Spanish rider explaining what it meant for him to have Honda come calling for him in the factory team in WorldSBK. Lecuona made his on-track debut with Honda during a December test at Jerez, which was disrupted by a crash, and was back out on track at the same venue in January.

Explaining his thoughts from when Honda started to speak to him, Lecuona said. “At this moment, when I knew, I thought this is the journey I want to choose because, for me, Honda is one of the best factories in this sport. When this factory comes to you, to speak directly to go to WorldSBK in the official team with the official support, all the Japanese guys behind you, to try to win the Championship… it’s something like you always want the feeling when you’re a kid. I wanted to feel this. I’m one of the two riders Honda want to fight with. For me, it’s something crazy but I’m really happy to have this opportunity. I needed some time. I spent some time with my manager to choose well for my career because if I leave MotoGP™, if I choose this option, it’s firstly because I believe in this project, the team, the bike and also because I feel for my career it will be positive.”

THE CHALLENGES OF ADAPTING…

With his time in the MotoGP™ paddock, including MotoGP™ and Moto2™, Lecuona would have been accustomed to the machines, tyres and weekend format but now has to adjust to the WorldSBK format of three races in a weekend as well as a new bike and Pirelli tyres. Lecuona outlined his biggest challenges with adapting to his new surroundings.

“For me, the big challenge is race management,” Lecuona said. “In MotoGP™, we have only one race per week. In MotoGP™, we have more race weeks but in WorldSBK we have more races because there are two long races and a Superpole Race. I think this is a big challenge. I need to improve a lot physically and mentally. In general, I need to change a lot my home training to try to ride the maximum. I think this is a big challenge for me. I started training some weeks ago for my hand but finally but the only thing I can do now, compared to last year is train a bit more or change a little bit the style, the methods with my personal training or with my nutritionist. In general, I’ve changed a little bit of everything to try to help my body and also to help myself to improve this point.”

LECUONA’S GOALS OUTLINED

Joining a factory team comes with plenty of pressure, with Lecuona’s first campaign in WorldSBK with the factory Honda team looking to make progress after two podiums in 2021 and three in total since their return as a full-factory squad. With everyone lining up on the grid harbouring hopes of a successful campaign, Lecuona discussed his short-term ambitions for his debut campaign at Honda as well as his hopes for the latter half of 2022.

Lecuona said: “In a short time, in a few races, I think the goal is to develop the bike and continue to learn. But, if I’m honest, I think the goal this year, in the second part of the season, is to fight with the top positions, top riders and finish with some podiums this year. I think, if everything goes well, we have the potential and this opportunity to fight at the front.”

Keep an eye out for part two of Lecuona’s interview arriving next week!

Watch Lecuona’s debut campaign in full throughout 2022 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!