Carlos gets comfy

Carlos Checa has unveiled some of the secrets to his rapid improvement in winter testing on board the LCR Honda RC212V 800 contender.

The Spaniard has begun to recapture his best form in recent tests in Phillip Island and Qatar after a dismal start to his 800cc career at the end of last year.

He talked to motorcyclenews.com how Honda had already answered his pleas for comfort parts: “I have a new seat that is longer and the tank is longer also. Honda joined some plastic onto the tank in Malaysia but now it is all one unit. There are two tanks, one shorter and one longer, and for me the longer one is better for my legs when I’m leaning over in the corners.

“I can use my legs to grip the tank better. The tank is 70mm longer and the seat about 15mm longer and now I feel much more comfortable. It’s not that this bike is any smaller because the wheelbase is the same as last year’s 990 Honda, but the riding position is different.