Despite another tricky weekend for Honda, there was some solace when Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) returned the manufacturer to the top ten for the first time since the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship visited Italy at Misano. In what had been a difficult period where both Lecuona and teammate Xavi Vierge struggled to crack the top ten and show any kind of form, Valencia-born Lecuona rode to his first top ten in over a month.

However, Imola was yet another challenging weekend for the Japanese manufacturer, perhaps not a surprise. Team HRC only returned in 2020 and this was the first trip for them to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. For the riders, it was also their first venture out into one of the most technically-challenging and undulating circuits on the calendar, where past experience really can make a difference. After no points in Race 1 (due to retirement) or the Superpole Race (due to finishing outside the points in 13^th), it was relief for Lecuona to deliver a 10^th on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking about the result, whilst it being far from ideal, it’s something to build from moving forward for the #7: “In the end I’m happy with how we’ve ended the weekend, because after struggling a lot in the beginning and qualifying a way back on the grid, step-by-step we’ve been able to turn the weekend around. For this, I want to say a big thank you to my team because they always had faith in me, just as I had faith that we’d be able to make a step forward with the bike. Already in today’s Superpole Race, I felt better lap after lap and realised I had quicker pace and could at least make up some positions.

In Race 2, the first laps were tough; it was not easy to overtake the riders ahead but once I was able to do that and move close to the group of riders fighting for tenth place, I managed to pass them too. On the last lap Remy tried to pass me back, but I was feeling very strong and could defend my position. Starting so far back meant it was impossible to do more but I’m happy to have finished in the top ten. I’m happy to finally have one week to rest after seven consecutive weekends of racing and testing. So, I’ll exploit these few days as a little ‘holiday’.”

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