​​Why Honda’s greatest critic was smiling after first day of MotoGP testing

Joan Mir is so used to highlighting the failings of Honda’s MotoGP bike that it was a shock to see him singing praises for its 2025 prototype in Sepang.

Simply three months prior, Mir had expressed his anger over Honda failing to bring any new parts to experiment with in the Barcelona test. It adopted a disastrous season by which he was outscored by Johann Zarco on the satellite tv for pc LCR bike, and was unable to take advantage of the late-season upgrades from the Japanese producer.

Some folks had even questioned why Mir and Honda had agreed to a brand new deal when the primary two years of their partnership had been nothing in need of a catastrophe.

Nevertheless, if Wednesday’s operating was any indication, Mir is ready for a a lot better marketing campaign in MotoGP with Honda this time round.

The 2020 champion defined that he was capable of see tangible enhancements on the dealing with of the bike in the course of the opening day of pre-season testing in Malaysia, as he completed sixth-fastest with a time that was simply 0.560s slower than Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo in first.

However greater than something, Mir loved driving a MotoGP bike once more, having stated in early 2024 that he was not sure “how lengthy his physique can take” the toll of Honda’s struggles. 

“The sensation was good as a result of each [corner] exit I used to be bettering,” he defined. “We ended the day being fairly quick with used tyres and in addition with new tyres. 

“I am pleased as a result of we kind of understood the road that we wish to proceed to do throughout this check. 

“We discovered kind of the set-up and the geometry that allowed me to trip in the way in which that I [like to] trip – a approach that I used to be not capable of trip final season, particularly the second a part of the season. And now Honda brings a bundle that enables me to do it.

“I used to be pleased in each exit, I used to be smiling as a result of I used to be having fun with [on the bike].”

Joan Mir, Honda HRC

Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs

Nevertheless, on the identical time, Mir is conscious that Honda nonetheless hasn’t cured all weaknesses of the RC213V, with the 27-year-old figuring out grip and straight line pace as two areas the place it nonetheless wants to enhance.

“Our bike just isn’t quick on the straight, it is not quick in any respect, we’re the slowest,” he revealed. “However for positive if we enhance on the straight and right here [in Sepang] there are two straights. I am positive we do not lose lower than three or 4 tenths in these two straights. 

“That signifies that we will get nearer, critically nearer as a result of we improved on the braking space, I used to be capable of brake how I do know, I used to be capable of flip. 

“I used to be nonetheless having vibrations however for some cause I used to be capable of handle it. They work laborious on it and it actually pays off.”

The Sepang check continues on Thursday and Friday, whereas one other two days of operating is scheduled in Buriram subsequent week earlier than the beginning of the 2025 season.

Having already made tangible enhancements on braking and cornering, Mir thinks Honda can give attention to top-speed and grip within the the rest of testing.

“The grip remains to be one thing the place we’d like one step, that we have to enhance – and the highest pace,” he stated. “Within the subsequent two days we are going to give attention to that.

“Tomorrow we are going to attempt. I am undecided however throughout as of late we must always attempt completely different engine configurations, the thought is to work on it on the facility. So let’s examine if we will make a step or we attempt it on the following check. We’ve got to see.”

Photographs from Sepang Take a look at – Day 1