Marc Marquez and Joan Mir to use Kalex chassis at Le Mans MotoGP

Repsol Honda team-mates Marc Marquez and Joan Mir will both try the new Kalex chassis during Friday practice for the French MotoGP.
Marc Marquez , French MotoGP, 11 May
Marc Marquez , French MotoGP, 11 May

HRC test rider St🃏efan Bradl gave the long-rumoured German frame its debut during the post-race test at Jerez.

But the schedule was ꦓdelayed when Bradl suffered a sizeablꦛe crash while trying a new aero package on the frame at 2pm.

Following repairs, Mir’s planned run on the Kalex then ended after less t꧃han a lap due to a tecꦰhnical issue.

However, with Marquez - returning from injury this weekend - without a MotoGP win si🌱nce 2021 and fellow former champion Mir scoring points once in his opening eight Honda races, both have decided to roll 🦩the dice and try the Kalex in practice at Le Mans.

Remote video URL

"It is mand﷽atory to try the Kalex chassis, I completely agree," ⭕Marquez said. "[Because] I missed the Jerez test and it is important.

"It is not the best strategy to achieve results on a raဣce weekend. But it’s time to do it because then we will have three weeks off, when they can work more. I will test, if the weather is ok, in FP1.

"I’m really happy to come back," added Marquez, who missed Argentina, COTA and Jerez due to his thumb fracture. "I cannot expect a lot this weekend. It’s true that its a month-and-a-half without🌸 riding any type of bike.

"The target this weekend is to try to get t🧔he rhythm ♔again of a MotoGP bike.

"Then in the next three𒁃 weeks rebuild my physical condition. I had a hand injury so it was difficult to keep the same physical condition.

"I will work for the team, for Honda, because I missed the tes🌺t in Jerez, one of the most important in the calendar.

"The weather conditions will b🔜e tricky but I’ll 𝔍do my best."

Stefan Bradl, Kalex frame, Jerez test
Stefan Bradl, Kalex frame, Jerez test

"I don't know if I will try in the morning or in the afternoon, but th🍌e intention is to try it," said Mir of the 👍Kalex.

"We think that it can be positive. It feels different, but I don't want to say if it's b𒆙etter or not because, on one lap, every bike is good. 

"I don't know where the limitations of this chassis is [yet], so I cജannot tell you if it's good or not."

The Kalex chassis follows Honda swapping its own carbon fibre swingarm for an aluminium Kalex design 🃏during th𒐪e 2022 season.

LCR riders Alex Rins and Takaaki Nakagami are not expected to try the Kalex frame, although Rins will try the e✃volution chassis used so far this 🌳year by Mir.

Read More