Honda HRC Castrol saw Joan Mir finish in sixth on the opening day of the Sepang Test.

Joan Mir is heading into his third year with the factory Honda MotoGP team. Since joining the Japanese manufacturer Mir has not been able to string together a series of consistently good results.

The 2020 World Champion suffered throughout 2023 and 2024 as he ended the years in 22nd and 21st in the standings.

However, after the opening day of the Sepang Test, there is optimism that 2025 could be different for Mir.

"We have been trying two different bikes, not fully one old and one new, and we got through a lot of work already in the morning," Mir said after day one of the Sepang Test.

"In the afternoon we focused more on short-term gains and every exit I was able to improve and go faster, ending the day fast on new and used tyres. I am happy because we understood the direction we want to continue for this test, a setting and geometry that allowed me to ride how I want to ride and smile while doing it.

"Honda has brought a package that allows me to do what I want on the bike; that’s the key point. I was happy and smiling on every exit because I was enjoying riding it.

"We still need to improve things, but we are able to be closer and ride better. The next two days we will try to gain in those other areas, but a really good first day of testing."

Mir was the fastest Honda throughout the opening day as he finished in sixth place with a lap time of 1:58.115. The 27-year-old was 0.640 seconds behind Fabio Quartararo's best time but was 0.217 seconds faster than the second-fastest Honda rider, Johann Zarco.

On the second day of testing, Mir was sixth on the timesheets once again with a lap time of 1:57.791. The Spaniard was 0.347 seconds quicker than Zarco who ended the day in 12th.