Vierge targets WorldSBK podium, ‘we have the potential’

After a year in WorldSBK Xavi Vierge is eager to convert the experience garnered in 2022 into his first podium on the Honda.

Having come close in Italy, the former Moto2 rider is confident of the progress made across his debut season.

“Has ben a good year but also I’ve had two big injuries during the season and this makes the year a bit more difficult than necessary.,” Vierge acknowledged of his rookie showing. “I think we make a good progress in the year. We have really good races. We performed good and the most important thing is that is our first year with the team, in that championship, many new things to discover and I think we make good work. We have a lot of data and we see the potential we have. Will be really, really important to make a good pre-season, to be ready for start fighting for the top positions next year.”

Winter testing for Team HRC kicked off at Jerez on Tuesday - just ten weeks away from the first race week of 2023 - and Vierge is determined to use the time wisely as he chases his goals.

“So excited [to start the year],” the 25-year-old continued. “Like you see, the team and Honda is working so much but during the season we don’t have enough time to discover everything. So now it’s really important to use these days of testing on the correct way, to understand and to make a really good base because next year will be a really important for us. I think with one year experience we will be much more ready to fight for the top positions and of course our goals will be much higher.

“We need to try to start the season fighting inside the top five to be fighting for the podiums as soon as possible.

“For sure, super concessions will help us,” he elaborated, on the recently announced rule changes. “Finally is