After two difficult years with Honda has Joan Mir finally found some competitive form with the RC213V?
The 2025 MotoGP season could be a crucial year for Honda after a terrible 2024 season. The Japanese manufacturer has plummeted to some all-time lows and has struggled to get back to the top.
After the Buriram Test, there has been an air of optimism from Honda HRC Castrol rider, Joan Mir. However, the 2020 MotoGP World Champion has also stayed realistic and has pointed out that the RC213V still has some 'pretty big' weak points.
“We have a couple of weak points, the problem is that the weak points are pretty big, pretty weak,” Mir said.
“So, I’m worried about the engine. I’m worried because the bike works well, I’m able now to ride in a way that I like and I enjoy, I will not lie, but the thing is that on the straight we are the slowest.
“Today we were able to make a lap time to position ourselves quite high, and with a bike that probably in the straight I’m not able to compete with. So, in terms of racing, we already lost the battle, so that makes me a bit worried.”
'I hope that we don’t get lost in the middle of the evolution...'
Despite his worries regarding Honda's engine for the 2025 season, Mir did have positive thoughts about the RC213V. The main improvement that he has found is with his feeling on the bike.
“For me, the most important thing today is the feeling that I have on the bike,” Mir said.
“The pace that we were able to do during the Sprint [simulation] is something that we are closer than ever since I’m with Honda, so cannot really ask for more.”
He added: “It’s another story, the feeling that I have now and the feeling that I had last year. I hope we can continue with this, I hope that we don’t get lost in the middle of the evolution like happened last year in the middle of the year.
“So, I hope that we learn from our mistakes and also I want to congratulate my team because to make this step in this small period of time is something that is not easy. I’m very happy for them. These tests don’t mean anything, but mean a lot at the same time for the people that work there.
“It has been impressive to be close to the top five with this margin that a couple of months ago we were not able to fight even with some test riders.”
