Curve 1 accident in Balaton Park left several pilots for the weekend and, also, for a few more weeks. That is the case of Iker Lecuona, which had been called by HRC to compete in the resistance World Cup in which it is the most important race for Japanese brands: the 8 hours of Suzuka.
Unfortunately for Lecuona, in the fall the distal radius of the left arm was fractured and, therefore, in Honda they have had to look for a substitute that can replace Iker with guarantees, which has already been operated on the injury.
Luckily for HRC, just at his side in Box he has a Xavi Vierge that although he has had some physical problems during the season, he is now in full form and, in fact, in Hungary he got his best global performance of the season.
So Vierge, who already competed in 2023 in the 8 hours of Suzuka and did so taking the victory along with Nagashima and Takahashi, will be the one who goes up to the official Honda number 30 in the edition of this year that is played this weekend, and of which the training has already begun.
In this case Xavi Vierge will form a team with Takahashi and with Zarco, which won in 2024, so we are facing a first -level trio that does not aspire to anything other than beating again, despite the fact that Xavi has not been able to carry out the previous tests.
In the official statement issued by HRC, yes, it is not spoken at the time of whether Lecuona may or may not be present in the MotoGP races of Austria and Hungary, where it was planned to replace Chantra.
Official Honda statement on the replacement of Lecuona for Vierge:
“After the incident that occurred on Saturday during Round 8 race of the Superbike World Championship in Balaton (Hungary), in which Iker Lecuona suffered a fracture in the distal radius of the left arm and was declared not suitable to continue competing competing during the weekend, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) confirms a change in its alignment of pilots for the 46th edition of the 46th edition of the 46th edition of Suzuka, scoring test of the FIM World Championship of Resistance 2025, which will be held on August 3, 2025.
Instead of Lecuona, the official team ‘Honda HRC’ will align the Worldsbk Xavi Vierge pilot, who will compete with Takumi Takahashi and Johann Zarco. Vierge has already been part of the HRC winning team in 2023 (together with Takahashi and Tetsuta Nagashima).
HRC wants to express all its support and the best wishes of a speedy recovery to Iker Lecuona ».
