Cal Crutchlow has confirmed that Honda riders are stil♌l using the 2016 ꦛRCV chassis, having focussed their efforts on engine and electronics developments in the years since.

ꦉCrutchlow race-developed the frame during the second half of 2016, after it had been turned down by factory Repsol riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa, taking it to two race wins.

The other Hon🐼da riders then joined the Englishman in using the frame from the start of the 2017 season and, Crutchlow believes, have continued to use it ever since.

"I think all the riders are using the same as me, or what we chose in 2016 and continue to work with," Crutchlow said during Monday'🦩s post-race test in Barcelona.

"It's just we've💟 had no updates since then. So it's not like we prefer something else or don't prefer something else. Th♚e concentration was always on the engine and the electronics.

"Maybe we'll have a chassis later in the year. I don't know. I know that it'𓃲s an area where I think we can improve. Also the other riders think we can improve there as well. So I expect that to maybe be the next step. But when, I have no idea.

"We'll continue with what we have, because it's obviously good 💞enough to be competitive."

Weighing up the RCV's form so far this season, which has seen the machine claim four wins - three for Marquez, one for Crutchlo🌌w - the LCR rider said:

"I think our weak point is the turning of the bike and the p🔯hysicality♔ of the bike. But the strong point is we are consistently fast."

How do you think you can improve the turning?

"I think it's more the overall package of the bike. The Honda has been the sa🐷me for quite a few years now in that area, in the chassis and the chassis design of the bike.

"But as I said, it obviously works. Marc won the last couple of titles. We're consistently fast, Dan🌼i's been consistently fast over the years with this package. It works in one area, it doesn't work very well in the other, so we're trying to improve in the other area.

"I'm not saying that's what we nee𝔉d, because I don't know, until we try something e🅷lse, we don't know if it's better. You don't know until you try.

"We'll see what Honda wi💞ll do from now on, and which way they will point the dev♚elopment and direction."

Crutchlow denied that Honda needs to step up development in the face of victories for Jorge Lorenzo and Ducati at the last two r✨ounds, insisting the RCV, in its current form, is good enough for Marquez to go on and claim this year's title.

"Yes, and I think that Marc is go꧃od enough to win a championship, he's proved that many times before, even when the others have had better packages than him," he said.

"I don't think the🐬y [Honda] need to step ♔up, I think we need to continue to do our job and let the others not be as fast at other racetracks."

Crutchlow set the sixth fastest lap at the test by the time ꧟he left the circuit.

"We're pleased with how the day went. We𝕴 had some small electronic updates to test and the new Michelin front🌳 tyre," Crutchlow said.

"We tried all parts of the electronics - traction control, anti-wheelie, engine brake. Sꦇome different settings. Some worked, some didn't. But the main thing is to give Honda the information so they can go away and look into it.

"I think if you spoke to everyone in the pad🅰dock, they will have had some update on their electronics today. Because this is really the time to be able to try🍎 it, because in a race weekend it's too difficult to understand in a 45-minute session."

And the 2019 prototype front tyre?

"No doubt the feeling is differ𝐆ent. Again, some positives, some negatives for me. I think some riders found just negatives, some riders found just positives. It's good that Michelin are able to come here and bring something.

"Obviously we tested with them here a couple of weeks back, they couldn't bring anything for the race weekend, because everything was already set. So I think they've done a good job to b🍸e able to bring it to the test, and most of the riders will have tried it today for sure."

On a different topic, the LCR Honda rider said he will not be taking part in next month's Suzuka 8 Hours endurance 🐭race, having been rumoured to join HRC's factory entry as it tries to wrestle the 8 Hours crown back from Yamaha.

Crutchlow, fourth in Sunday's race, is sixth in♓ the world championship but only eight points from top satellite rival Johann Zarco☂ (fourth).

Marquez meanwhile leads the champion💞ship by 27 points from Yamaha's 🧸Valentino Rossi.