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Honda won't radically change its MotoGP bike to suit Lorenzo

Honda MotoGP boss Alberto Puig says the Japanese manufacturer won't overhaul its bike just to help Jorge Lorenzo adapt, so long as Marc Marquez continues to win

Marquez has enjoyed regular success with the RC213V despite its reputation as a recalcitrant machine, having won three of his five titles on the trot and currently leading this season's riders' standings.

Lorenzo, brought in to replace Dani Pedrosa this year, has struggled to get to grips with the bike, and visited the Honda factory in Japan after the Mugello round in order to help his adaptation.

Lorenzo suggested at Mugello Honda is reluctant to make significant tweaks to the RC213V due to Marquez's results - and speaking ahead of the Barcelona round, Puig confirmed the firm isn't entertaining major changes to the package.

"With Jorge we've tried and are trying to make him more comfortable on the bike. The reason for his trip to Japan was 99 percent this, to try to make himself more comfortable," Puig said.

"In the end, what's happening is what has happened in the recent years. Marc is leading. The surprise is Jorge's results, but he doesn't hide or make excuses.

"The bike's base is not so bad because it wins the championship nearly every year. That Jorge is not adapting to the bike doesn't mean that it's bad.

"What we can't do is change the bike just because one rider can't adapt to it, especially if Marc is winning."

Lorenzo revealed some of the parts that he had worked on in Japan will already be on the bike this weekend, with another update "on the ergonomics side" coming for Assen.

He stressed it "will not solve the situation to be able to fight for victories and podiums tomorrow", and conceded the onus was on him to gain a better understanding of his current package.

"I said in the last races, it's gonna be a long process," Lorenzo said.

"And it's still quite far to understand perfectly how to ride the bike, especially in the entry of the corners - that is one problem, of experiencing and understanding. And the other problem is my comfort on the bike.

"We are working on this process, to make my 'shoes' more comfortable for me. It's like running a marathon if you are an athlete; you are a good athlete, you can finish the marathon, you can be quite fast, but the shoes are a little bit too small or the shape of the shoes is not for you.

"The shoes themselves, run by other sportsmen, are very competitive. But at the moment not for me.

"I'm not saying it's only the bike, it's not only the size of the bike, it's not only the ergonomic of the bike, I also can improve my riding and my understanding.

"But for sure if I will be more comfortable on the bike, I will be more competitive. That's why we decide to travel to Japan, to accelerate this process as soon as possible, with the possibilities that we have."

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