Honda engineers had to ‘control themselves’ after what Joan Mir did during testing

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Honda were one of the surprises of pre-season testing ahead of the 2025 MotoGP campaign.

The Japanese manufacturer had the slowest bike on the grid in 2024. Honda finished last in the constructors’ standings with just 75 points all season.

Neither factory rider Joan Mir nor Luca Marini managed a top 10 finish last year. But Honda did make steady progress towards the end of the season.

Johann Zarco told Honda how to find four-tenths ‘for free’, with the bike being able to perform if they can fix their vibration problems.

Mir will love Aleix Espargaro’s assessment of the Honda bike as he stated he was ‘starting to love’ the 2025 machine ahead of testing in Sepang.

Honda carried that momentum into Malaysia and the test at Buriram with some solid progress. Mir was a particular standout performer.

Honda engineers had to ‘control themselves’ about their progress after Joan Mir’s Sprint simulation in testing

Honda felt a ‘sense of relief’ after Sepang with their progress. The manufacturer Honda continued the momentum into Buriram as Mir was half a second behind pacesetter Marc Marquez on the second day.

The Spaniard’s Sprint simulation on day three was faster than rival Fabio Quartararo on the Yamaha. He was even around two tenths off the pace of Marco Bezzecchi on the Aprilia.

After seeing the performance, Honda engineers were left having to ‘control themselves’ over their progression. Speaking on the Paddock Pass Podcast, journalist Neil Morrison says Mir gave them a ‘dose of reality’ by stressing the engine’s speed was still a weakness.

“His Sprint simulation on the final day was really quite impressive, faster than Fabio Quartararo’s Sprint simulation. I think it was roughly what Pedro Acosta managed to do on the first day of tests over about 10 or 11 laps.

“And [he] was just under I think two tenths of a second of what Bezzecchi was able to do on average per lap, so definite signs of stepping forward there.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Honda from the MotoGP team’s riders to leadership

“I think a couple of the Honda engineers were having to control themselves and not get too carried away on the final day and Mir did give a nice dose of reality in his media debrief when he was saying, one bit weakness is still the engine.

“They are the slowest bike basically, in terms of top speed I think on the grid now and when you factor in the realities of MotoGP racing in 2025, if you’re getting dwarfed on the straight it becomes very, very difficult to overtake.”

Why Pedro Acosta will be worried by Joan Mir’s data ahead of Thailand Grand Prix

With the Thailand Grand Prix fast approaching, it is clear Honda have taken a step forward. But Mir and Marini disagree about the 2025 bike, with the former saying they are ‘much closer’ to their rivals.

The 2020 champion’s data from his race simulations in Buriram will prove that. Mir outpaced Pedro Acosta as he went second-fastest behind Bezzecchi.

While Acosta was third and a few hundredths behind Mir, having a Honda ahead of a KTM bike will be a concern. The Austrian manufacturer produced mixed results in pre-season amid their desperate financial crisis.

The first race of the season will be the real test for Honda. But early signs suggest things are on the up for the Japanese manufacturer.