Iker Lecuona returns to his Honda WorldSBK this week as HRC prepares for its first winter test at Jerez.

Just over a month since a massive highside at Indonesia ruled the Spaniard out of the final stages of the 2022 season - having sustained fractured vertebrae and sacrum following a turn four crash in FP2 - Lecuona has been back training on two wheels in preparation for three days of testing at the Andalucian circuit.

“I feel good,” Lecuona confirmed from Jerez on Monday. “Was a big highside. The last weeks I start to ride with the bike, Supermoto, flat track, last week with the bicycle. Trying to recover a little bit the power before coming here to Jerez for the first test.

“I feel good. Maybe not 100 per cent, for sure I need some time because, two or three weeks I cannot do nothing. But yeah, I'm very happy to be here so we'll see during the test how it is.”

His rookie season in the Superbike World Championship proved an up and down affair. Initially struggling to get to grips with the CBR1000RR-R after two years in MotoGP and four in Moto2, the 22 year old secured both a podium and pole position in his debut year.  

“This year was amazing for me, honestly,” he reflected. “From many years, I struggle a lot in Moto2, MotoGP.  I never have a bike for fight in front. Maybe this year also we don't have the best bike but I enjoy. I feel the support from Honda, I feel the support from my team, from the family so this gives me an extra energy all the year.

“In the second round in Assen I made this podium, was unbelievable for me, then in Barcelona made the pole position. In general was everything really good for me.

“Honestly, I'm very, very excited about this year,” he continued, looking ahead to 2023. “After the crash in Indonesia, I feel frustrated because I feel that my level is very high - maybe to fight for a podium. The bike improves quite a lot during the year. Also myself, I try to work hard and I try to improve my riding style and trying to learn about this championship. Race by race we're improving. In Argentina we finished in P4 in the long race, that was unbelievable with this pace. So yeah, frustrated but happy to be here in Jerez to start the 2023 season in a best way possible.”

Both himself and teammate Xavi Vierge made the move from the MotoGP paddock at the start of 2022 - Lecuona from Red Bull KTM and Vierge from Petronas Moto2.

“In the beginning, for me I struggle a little bit more, I think, than Xavi because I need to make a reset on everything - on my style, with electronic, with tyres,” Lecuona said of last season’s challenge. “This bike, in the beginning for Xavi is too fast, more than the Moto2, for me it's quite slow compared to the MotoGP so I need some time. But during this year we learn a lot, not 100 per cent, we need more time to learn more about the tyres, management during the races. The last races we improve a lot, we know also the bike need to develop in this area. But for sure next year we will start with a different mentality than this year. We have already one year, we know the bike has the pole position in Barcelona, fourth places in many tracks, the podium.

“We both have potential to do it so I think that mentality is different. We start with the knowledge that we can fight for a podium if everything works well.

“We'll see during the test and then we can talk about the next year, the performance, everything.”

While Lecuona was new to the Honda on his introduction to the championship, the man who relinquished the bike, Alvaro Bautista, went on to become champion with Ducati.  

“We can see that the performance from Alvaro this year was unbelievable, honestly, with Ducati,” Lecuona said of his countryman. “I think that this package, now, at this time, is the best package in this championship. He win many races and, not easier, never is easier but with some calm - is not like Toprak [Razgatlioglu] or Johnny [Rea] that he need to fight a lot with the bike. I think the package, Ducati with Alvaro, was perfect. I joke during this year many times with Alvaro and he told me always the same - he told me every time for him is easier to ride with the Ducati. He feels good with Ducati and the Ducati feels good with Alvaro.

“Alvaro with the Honda struggled a lot. This Honda, we need to develop more for sure. During this year, my teammate Xavi and me, we improve a lot the bike. The bike make some steps, for sure not the step that we need to fight for a victory - we need some time, but is coming, 100 per cent.

“The Honda bikes, you need to fight with the bike to go fast,” he confirmed on why the reigning champion had less affinity with the Fireblade. “Alvaro’s style is not to fight with the bike. We saw with Xavi and me, many crashes, many saves but many movement during the races for us.

“We'll see during the test many new pieces. Honestly I don't know what we need to try because I don't talk with my crew chief about the test but for sure we can make the step during this winter to fight in front. Then, we'll see. I think the Honda is coming, my teammate and me we are 100 per cent ready to fight, so we will see.”