Dissatisfied with Honda's progress at the Barcelona Test and then at the marque's private test at Jerez later last year, it seems that Joan Mir has finally found his smile again. The Spaniard had some rather positive comments about the marque after the six days of action in Malaysia, quantifying his arguments with the lap time gain he has seen compared to the 2024 Malaysian Grand Prix.
This week has been rather enjoyable for Joan Mir, a regular contender for the top-10 in the general classification in Malaysia. Concerns have dissipated in the minds of Honda riders, who now assure that they have verified the progress of the brand on the track.
While it is still difficult to place Honda in the hierarchy of the next MotoGP grid, the lap times do not betray the riders' feelings during these tests. Last November, Joan Mir was eliminated in Q1, author of a time of 1'58.618. This time, to claim eighth place, the Spaniard had to slam a lap in 1:57.279, more than a second faster.
The track conditions are obviously not comparable, although today's warmer temperatures allowed many drivers to set good lap times. Nevertheless, this result was enough to spark some enthusiasm in Joan Mir ahead of what followed.
"We have to be happy with this test and the progress we have made, confided the 2020 world champion at the end of the tests. The engineers and the team have worked very hard during the winter and it shows on the track, we have a better bike. Today the conditions were better than during a GP weekend, but I gained almost two seconds compared to my qualifying lap. The bike allows me to push and ride in a better way.
Joan Mir not entirely happy
Despite everything, the rider who is certainly the most critical of the brand's fold is not able to consider himself satisfied with the progress made, and asks a little more from Honda before the start of the season.
"I'm not satisfied, because as a driver you always want more, continues Joan Mir. But we have to be happy with where we are now. There are still areas for improvement and we need to focus on that. I am looking forward to the next test, it has been a nice and positive three days."
As with Yamaha, it will be interesting to compare Honda's performance on the Buriram circuit. The Japanese factories being the only ones to occupy Rank D of the concessions, all their riders were able to take part in the Shakedown organized last week, on the same Sepang circuit.
At the final two days of pre-season testing, which will be held next week in Buriram, no factory will have any previous experience with the 2025 bike.
MotoGP – Sepang Test – Day 3 Classification:
Ranking : MotoGP.com
