​​Why Honda’s biggest 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 wherein 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.

Nonetheless, if Wednesday’s operating was any indication, Mir is about for a significantly 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 throughout 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 using a MotoGP bike once more, having mentioned in early 2024 that he was uncertain “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 likewise with new tyres. 

“I am joyful as a result of we kind of understood the road that we need to proceed to do throughout this take a look at. 

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

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

Nonetheless, 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 velocity as two areas the place it nonetheless wants to enhance.

“Our bike will not be 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 implies 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 purpose I used to be capable of handle it. They work onerous on it and it actually pays off.”

The Sepang take a look at 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 continues to be one thing the place we want one step, that we have to enhance – and the highest velocity,” he mentioned. “Within the subsequent two days we’ll give attention to that.

“Tomorrow we’ll strive. I am unsure however throughout lately we should always strive completely different engine configurations, the concept is to work on it on the ability. So let’s have a look at if we will make a step or we strive it on the subsequent take a look at. We have now to see.”

Pictures from Sepang Take a look at – Day 1