Honda weaknesses can't be fixed this year, says Pedrosa

Honda MotoGP rider Dani Pedrosa is concerned that his bike's issues can't be fully solved this year, as its engine is sealed for the rest of the season.

Pedrosa, who recently signed a two-year extension to his contract with Honda, was off the pace in Friday practice at Mugello, ending up only 11th-quickest.

And the Spaniard expects the RC213V machine's well-publicised acceleration problems to remain for the rest of the year, thanks to series rules that prevent the team from modifying the engine during the season.

Asked by media if it was possible to fix the bike's issues, Pedrosa replied: "To the level I want? For sure [not], because there is a big part depending on the engine.

"Acceleration, grip, traction control [are still an issue]. It might be because of our bike, or because we don't know exactly how to use the tools of the software.

"I think we still have some room there to make the bike a little more smooth and stable, especially on the traction control."

Marquez "happy with the feeling"

On the other hand, Pedrosa's fellow factory Honda rider Marc Marquez said the bike's weakness in acceleration should not be as big an issue at Mugello as it was at Le Mans.

"Here it looks like there are less acceleration [zones], and maybe we lose a little bit less on this point," said the two-time champion, who ended FP2 in fifth place.

"But there are many changes of direction, flowing corners with smooth lines, like [Jorge] Lorenzo-style. In this first practice it felt quite good.

"I know we are still losing in the accelerations and we need to concentrate on the stability on the exit of the corners, but about the rest I’m quite happy with the feeling of the bike."