has admitted he anticipated extra from Honda’s 2026 MotoGP challenger, describing the bike as “not tremendous aggressive” after final weekend’s Buriram check.
Though Mir sounded optimistic about Honda’s prospects following three days of working at Sepang in early February, he struck a extra cautious tone in Thailand.
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Whereas the Spaniard reiterated that the Japanese producer has made tangible progress with the RC213V this 12 months, he concluded that these good points have been largely offset by rivals bettering over the winter.
Mir stays hopeful that the manufacturing unit will be capable to unlock extra efficiency within the build-up to this weekend’s season opener in Thailand, however he’s nonetheless dissatisfied with the chassis he evaluated at Buriram.
“At this monitor, we discovered extra difficulties than in Sepang for some cause. Particularly me, I couldn’t put the bike in the identical place by way of potential,” the 2020 champion mentioned.
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“I am not tremendous glad, actually, as a result of it is vital [to be strong] right here. You see kind of who would be the guys to beat subsequent weekend, and the fact is that we struggled a bit. We struggled a bit by way of grip. In all probability this totally different carcass just isn’t our huge good friend in the meanwhile.
Joan Mir, Honda HRC
Joan Mir, Honda HRC
“It isn’t tremendous clear, for us, the route we have to take, as a result of I feel we do not have a brilliant aggressive package deal in the meanwhile. That is how I really feel. In all probability throughout this [race] week, the blokes will discover one thing.”
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One of many RC213V’s greatest weaknesses has been an absence of rear grip, which regularly leaves riders struggling for traction exiting the nook.
That is one space the place Mir feels Honda has made little to no progress, leaving the manufacturing unit even additional behind its rivals.
This challenge wasn’t totally evident at Sepang, partly attributable to unusually appropriate monitor circumstances and Honda’s intensive non-public testing expertise on the circuit. Nevertheless, the issue was laid naked firstly/cease Buriram circuit final weekend, prompting Mir to say Honda wants a “revolution” on this space.
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“By way of potential, I anticipated extra,” Mir admitted. “At Sepang, I mentioned that now we have to enhance our grip. It is our weak level. And in the meanwhile, Ducati and Aprilia are at a special degree. In Sepang we may have an opportunity, and right here not.
“We’re within the course of [of changing the bike] a bit. We tried various things, however not a special idea. The idea was the identical. There was some evolution and never a revolution. I feel by way of grip, we want a revolution in the meanwhile.”
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Mir expects Honda to stay in the same place within the pecking order, believing a top-eight result’s the most effective it may hope for by way of pure tempo early within the season.
“I feel that we’re at the same potential as final 12 months as a result of the others additionally made an enchancment. We improved, however the others most likely [improved] the identical or extra,” he lamented.
“Hopefully, with the opposite carcass, our bike conduct improves and we may be extra aggressive. I am certain that we are going to discover one thing. However in the meanwhile, our actual place just isn’t greater than prime eight, prime 10.”
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