Mir Tempered Expectations for Honda's MotoGP Title Aspirations: "Consolidation Before Contention"

SEPANG, Malaysia – Joan Mir, the 2020 MotoGP World Champion, has cautioned against premature expectations of Honda returning to the pinnacle of race victories in the immediate future, emphasizing the imperative for the Japanese manufacturer to solidify its recent progress before setting sights on championship contention.

Honda has demonstrated a marked resurgence in the 2025 MotoGP season, following a period of unprecedented struggle. The Malaysian Grand Prix, held last weekend at the Sepang International Circuit, marked the team’s fourth podium finish of the season, signifying a substantial improvement compared to previous campaigns.

The Japanese manufacturer currently holds 266 points in the manufacturers’ standings, exceeding triple the tally achieved in the preceding year. This upward trajectory has enabled Honda to surpass Yamaha in the standings and concurrently narrow the gap to its European rivals, namely Ducati, KTM and Aprilia.

Despite the evident progress, Mir concedes that critical areas require refinement on the RC213V, Honda’s premier MotoGP machine. The persistent issue of insufficient grip continues to be a contributing factor to the rider’s frequent crashes.

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When questioned about his timeline for securing a maiden victory with Honda, Mir responded with a pragmatic perspective: "That I don’t know. First of all, to start running, we have to walk."

"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," Mir added, highlighting the team’s current instability.

Mir stressed the necessity for enhanced bike stability and improved grip levels to facilitate a more manageable riding experience. "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]."

The challenge of iterative improvements was not lost on the former world champion. "It’s hard to improve that, because every time you reach a better level, it’s more difficult to improve [the bike]."

Mir maintained a sense of optimism, expressing confidence in Honda’s engineering capabilities and commitment to regaining a competitive edge. "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."

"But first of all, before winning, I would like to [finish] more constantly in these places," Mir concluded, underscoring the immediate priority of consistent podium finishes.

While LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco secured a victory at the rain-affected French Grand Prix earlier this year, Honda’s last dry-weather victory dates back to Alex Rins’ triumph for the satellite squad at the Americas Grand Prix in early 2023. The factory HRC team’s most recent grand prix victory occurred at Misano in 2021 with Marc Marquez, extending the drought to four years.

Despite the absence of victories, attributed in part to Ducati’s sustained dominance, Honda has displayed tangible progress in 2025, particularly following a post-summer break upgrade to the RC213V.

Luca Marini, Mir’s teammate, lauded Honda’s developmental trajectory in 2025, emphasizing the absence of regressions and acknowledging the remaining areas for improvement in preparation for the upcoming season.

"We worked well in every detail, in every aspect," Marini stated, reflecting on the improvements made to the RC213V. The Italian rider achieved top-five finishes in both the Hungarian and Indonesian races, riding the upgraded machine.

"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," Marini elaborated, highlighting specific areas of improvement.

Marini acknowledged the persistent challenge of insufficient edge grip. "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 attributed the team’s progress to effective collaboration and communication. "All the crew and all the engineers started to work very well with a good synergy – along with the mechanics."

The Italian rider emphasized the positive nature of Honda’s development process. "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," Marini concluded, summarizing the team’s consistent progress.

The Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has a long and storied history in MotoGP, with numerous championships and race wins to its credit. However, the past few seasons have been challenging, marked by a decline in performance and the departure of key riders.

The team’s struggles have been attributed to a combination of factors, including difficulties adapting to the evolving technical regulations, a lack of competitiveness in the engine and chassis departments, and the absence of a clear development direction.

Honda’s efforts to regain its competitive edge have included a significant investment in research and development, the recruitment of experienced engineers and technicians, and a renewed focus on rider feedback and collaboration.

The team’s 2025 rider lineup consists of Joan Mir and Luca Marini, both of whom are highly talented and experienced racers. Mir, the 2020 MotoGP World Champion, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. Marini, while relatively new to the factory Honda team, has shown considerable promise and is expected to make significant contributions to the team’s development efforts.

The RC213V, Honda’s premier MotoGP machine, has undergone significant revisions in recent years, with the aim of improving its overall performance and addressing the specific issues that have plagued the team. The latest iteration of the bike features a revised engine, a redesigned chassis, and updated aerodynamics.

Honda’s commitment to MotoGP remains unwavering, and the team is determined to return to the forefront of the championship. The progress made in 2025 is a positive sign, but the team acknowledges that there is still much work to be done before it can consistently challenge for race wins and championships.

The next MotoGP race is scheduled to take place at [Insert Location] on [Insert Date]. Honda will be looking to continue its upward trajectory and further refine its RC213V machine.