Mir Emphasizes Honda's Gradual Ascent in MotoGP: 'Consolidation Before Contention'

SEPANG, Malaysia – Joan Mir, the 2020 MotoGP World Champion, has tempered expectations surrounding Honda’s immediate prospects for race victories, asserting that the Japanese manufacturer must first solidify its recent gains before setting sights on the top step of the podium. This assessment comes amidst signs of recovery for Honda, following a period of unprecedented struggles in the premier class of motorcycle racing.

Honda’s performance in the 2025 season represents a notable improvement after enduring what many considered its most challenging era in MotoGP. The Malaysian Grand Prix, held at the Sepang International Circuit, marked the team’s fourth podium finish of the year, signaling a resurgence in competitiveness. This progress is further reflected in the manufacturers’ standings, where Honda has amassed 266 points, more than tripling its previous year’s total and surpassing Yamaha in the process. The team has also narrowed the gap to its European rivals, a testament to the concerted efforts made in development and engineering.

Despite these positive indicators, Mir remains pragmatic about the work that still needs to be done. He highlighted persistent issues with the RC213V, particularly a lack of grip, which he believes contributes significantly to his crashes. When questioned about his timeline for contending for his first victory with Honda, Mir responded with a cautionary note, stating, "That I don’t know. First of all, to start running, we have to walk."

Mir elaborated on the need for stability and consistency, emphasizing that the team’s current trajectory of alternating between podium finishes and crashes is unsustainable. "It’s important that we consolidate these podium places a little bit because I feel like [either] we finish on the podium or we finish on the ground, and this is not possible," he explained. "We have to improve that; try to work on the bike a bit more, try to make it a little bit more stable, and try to improve the grip slightly more. This will make the bike slightly easier to ride – a bike that you don’t have to push 150% every lap. It’s so easy to make a mistake [when you are pushing hard]."

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The challenge of continuous improvement is not lost on Mir. He acknowledged the inherent difficulty in making further gains as the team reaches a higher level of performance. "It’s hard to improve that, because every time you reach a better level, it’s more difficult to improve [the bike]," he said. However, he expressed confidence in Honda’s engineering capabilities and the commitment to returning to the forefront of MotoGP. "Improving the actual package will be difficult, but I think that we have a margin. The engineers are very good, and I trust Honda a lot – and the effort that they are making to be back on top as soon as possible."

Before targeting race wins, Mir stressed the importance of achieving consistent results in the upper echelon of the standings. "But first of all, before winning, I would like to [finish] more constantly in these places," he concluded.

Honda’s last dry-weather victory came at the Americas Grand Prix in early 2023, courtesy of Alex Rins, who was then riding for the LCR satellite team. The factory HRC team’s last win dates back to the Misano race in 2021, when Marc Marquez secured the victory. This prolonged drought underscores the challenges Honda has faced in recent years, particularly in the face of Ducati’s dominance.

While Ducati has established itself as the benchmark in MotoGP, Honda has been actively pursuing improvements to its RC213V machine. A post-summer break upgrade has provided a significant boost to the team’s performance, demonstrating the effectiveness of Honda’s development efforts.

Mir’s teammate, Luca Marini, has also acknowledged the progress made by Honda, praising the manufacturer for its relentless pursuit of improvement. Marini highlighted the positive impact of the upgrades, noting advancements in braking, corner entry, and mid-corner turning. He also pointed out that Honda had avoided any backwards steps in its development, which is key to maintaining momentum.

Marini stated, "We worked well in every detail, in every aspect. We solved the braking a little bit, we solved the entry phase [of the corner] that was a problem at the beginning, and we solved mid-corner and turning. Still, sometimes, we don’t have enough grip – edge grip. This is something that we are going to keep working on. But on the drive, the aero is now very good; the bike in the wheelie phase is good. On aero, we made a step, but still there is so much room for improvement."

Marini further emphasized the collaborative spirit within the team, stating, "All the crew and all the engineers started to work very well with a good synergy – along with the mechanics. There was never a step back. Every time Honda brought some stuff, we tried [it]. If it was good, we kept it on the bike, and if it was bad, we threw it away and another piece maybe arrived [in its place]. At every GP we made a little step and we never went back[wards]. This was the key for being here [and] now fighting for top five."

Honda’s resurgence in 2025 is a welcome development for the sport, as it adds another competitive element to the grid. The team’s progress serves as a testament to its engineering capabilities and its unwavering determination to return to the pinnacle of MotoGP. However, as Joan Mir has emphasized, the road to race victories is a gradual one, requiring a solid foundation of consistent performance and continuous improvement.

The coming races will be crucial for Honda as it seeks to further refine its RC213V machine and close the gap to its rivals. The team’s focus on addressing the bike’s weaknesses, particularly in the area of grip, will be essential in enabling its riders to push to their full potential without risking crashes.

Honda’s commitment to MotoGP is unwavering, and the manufacturer is determined to reclaim its position as a dominant force in the sport. The team’s recent progress is a promising sign, but it is clear that there is still much work to be done before it can consistently challenge for race wins.

With the collective effort of its riders, engineers, and mechanics, Honda is poised to continue its ascent in MotoGP. The team’s gradual approach, prioritizing consolidation before contention, reflects a pragmatic and realistic assessment of its current position. As Joan Mir has aptly stated, the team must first learn to walk before it can run. The focus will remain on steady progress and incremental improvements, with the ultimate goal of returning Honda to the top step of the podium.