Honda finally showed some prog⛦ress in WorldSBK at the end of last season, chall🐭enging for top-six positions in the final races of the year, and the start of 2025 has continued in that direction despite a change in suspension brands.

After using Showa since 2022, Honda has reverted to Ohlins – which it last used in 2021 – fo💧r 2025, and the firꦺst impressions have been positive.

“It’s been quite good,” HRC team manager Jose Escꦺamez said of Honda’s initial time back on Ohlins when speaking to WorldSBK.com.

“We have found, quickly, the riღght way to keep going. We have been working to find a good base setup, and this will help the riders feel comfortable for lap times.

“Of course, and there are some d﷽ifferences with the previous ꦰsuspension we’ve been using.

“Just trying to understand, but there’s not much differen🔜ce, tho༺ugh.

“There’s a small improvement in performance a♕nd also feedback from riders. It’s a fair enough reason to let them ride with this one.”

Iker Lecuona is missing this week’s test thrꦺough injury, and said that the change in suspension makes it

“It’s [the suspension brand change] another reason that I🌺’m not happy to noꦫt jump on the bike,” Lecuona said.

“We changed the brand, we chang▨ed the full suspension, sဣo that is a big change on the bike.

“For sure I don’t know how much [the Ohlins suspension has] changed the bike, compared to th😼e 🤪Showa from last year. Let’s see in Portimao if I can try [it].”

In generܫal, despite the absence of Lecuona, HRC’s first day of testing in 2025 had been positive, according to Escamez, as they’d picked up from where they left off at the end of 2024.

“The day has been good because the weather has respected the predictions from Tuꩵesday,” Escamez said at the end of the first day of testing in Jerez.

“So far, we are good enough, we can say, but not happy at all.♚ It’s quite good.

“Xavi [Vierge] has been doing laps and ever🗹ything looks as we expected.

“This means we’re in the same way that we finished last year, which is already a positive point. Weﷺ’re still looking forward.”