Honda seems to finally be coming up for air, as evidenced by the latest test in Sepang. While the gap to the leaders remains concerning, the brand’s riders, Joan Mir and Luca Marini, highlight significant improvements, even though a crucial point still needs refinement: grip.
Encouraging Tests in Sepang
During the recent test in Sepang, Honda displayed undeniable signs of progress. Joan Mir, after finishing as the only representative of the brand in the top 10, emphasized the advancements while noting a gap of 0.866 with Álex Márquez. Although the distance is still considerable, the Spaniard remains optimistic: “My confidence on the bike is improving, it’s increasing, and when you take a new tire, it translates into a good lap time.”
Mir did not dwell on a revolutionary advancement, but rather on small evolutions in various areas. “It’s slightly better in all areas, more or less,” he summarized, insisting that there is still a long way to go.
Positive Feedback from Marini
Luca Marini also observed improvements “a bit everywhere,” praising Honda’s efforts. “For all manufacturers, it’s impossible to bring a completely new prototype; it’s the improvements of small details that allow the bike to progress in many aspects of riding,” he explained. Marini was satisfied with the parts available during the Valencia test, highlighting that “the Japanese did a fantastic job this winter.”
He added that top speed, braking, and cornering behavior have improved. However, he acknowledges that there is still work to be done to optimize these advancements: “We can still work on what we’ve already improved, to be ready for the first race.”
Luca Marini appreciates the new features brought to the Honda.
Grip, Honda’s Weak Point for Now
When it comes to what Honda still lacks, Joan Mir and Luca Marini share the same observation: “Grip. We are still very far in terms of grip.” Mir explains that “the grip is not fantastic yet, it needs to improve.” Indeed, all riders note that the bikes are becoming very similar, and it is crucial for Honda to stand out.
Johann Zarco, for his part, approaches this issue from a different angle. Although he feels an improvement in the bike, he admits it still lacks grip during acceleration. “The engine, I think it has less friction, it’s true that it pedals much more – it’s actually nice,” he stated during an interview. According to him, the Sepang circuit could also influence this perception.
Johann Zarco perceives progress on the Honda.
Zarco also wishes to better control the bike’s behavior as the tires wear. For him, this grip issue is essential: “That’s what I would like to control. I struggled in the race in October.” Improving tire management could be the key to giving Honda a competitive edge.
A Very Powerful Engine Now
Despite concerns about grip, Honda’s riders are satisfied with their engine’s performance. Mir hopes for aerodynamic evolution for Buriram, while Honda, now deprived of category D concessions, can no longer evolve its engine. However, peripheral improvements have been noted.
Luca Marini highlighted the good work done by Honda this winter. “Already last year, the last specification marked a big step forward, and now there’s still a small improvement,” he stated. However, he insists that “the bike never has enough power!”
Luca Marini feels that the Honda no longer has power issues.
Johann Zarco, at LCR, also shared this view: “With a good engine, at least you can enter the corner quickly, miss the corner, and take off again! [laughs]” He noted a significant improvement in acceleration and hopes that Honda can close the gap with its competitors.
Overall, Mir believes that the 2026 Honda is already well-defined: “I think so, because my current base is good, the lap times show that the base is good.” He remains aware, however, that there are still points to improve, particularly regarding behavior on worn tires.
