Repsol Honda has endured a challenging few seasons in MotoGP with both rider injury and a wayward RC213V impacting its usual dominance.

While Marc Marquez confirmed his fitness was firmly on track to allow the eight-time world champion to return to the fore in 2023, progress with the bike is slower than both expected and desired.

“We have an evolution of what we tried in Valencia,” Team Manager Alberto Puig confirmed after three days of pre-season testing concluded in Sepang. “For us, the testing will finish in Portimao. So clearly we are not there yet, where we want to be.”

There are just two days left on track before the inaugural round of the upcoming season kicks off, both scheduled for Portugal’s Algarve International Circuit, but HRC’s to-do list seems as extensive as ever.

“We have many ideas but we have to bring them and prove that are working and this is basically what we are doing now,” Puig continued. “One of our goals is to improve traction, but it’s not the only one.

“We need to improve many, many things and we think we are on the way, on the direction. Both from engine and from chassis we have possibilities but we need more time, this is clear.

“We have four bikes that are the same, with different settings or changes but we don’t have let’s say, a completely new concept. We are not thinking that we have achieved our goal.”

The returning Marquez has a fellow world champion alongside for 2023, as Joan Mir joins the fray from the disbanded Suzuki squad. The 2020 MotoGP Champion is eager to showcase his skills as he swaps manufacturer and has new crew chief Giacomo Guidotti - formally of LCR - alongside for the ride.

“I think Marc is really good,” Puig said on the Spaniard’s returning strength. “His condition is much better, for example, compared to last year when we were here. He can do laps, on the next morning he’s not destroyed like last year, that he was really sore and painful. So this is super important.

“We are also seeing a lot of progress in Joan. He is improving and understanding the bike so if we can bring the bike that we think we can bring, we cannot forget that Joan is two time world champion and the reason why he’s here is because of that.”