Honda could now answer Joan Mir’s plea for ‘the tools to fight’ with Valencia test plan

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Honda have enjoyed a huge turnaround to start the 2025 season yet Stefan Bradl and Aleix Espargaro have been testing in Valencia to unlock more of their bike’s potential.

The Japanese crew and Yamaha are utilising MotoGP’s concessions rules to conduct a two-day test this Tuesday and Wednesday at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Honda and Yamaha both can test at any circuit and at any time, as long as it is not within 14 days before a Grand Prix.

A delegation of key Honda figures, including their new technical director Romano Albesiano, have even attended the test at the Valencia Grand Prix venue. It is a key test for Honda, who are checking the competitiveness and reliability of parts for riders Joan Mir and Luca Marini.

Honda are testing new parts in Valencia to try and improve the RC213V’s top speed

Honda are striving to further build on their strong start to the 2025 MotoGP season with the factory team seventh in the teams’ championship behind satellite crew LCR in sixth. It marks a vast difference from last term, when LCR and Honda scored the fewest points of any team.

LCR ace Johann Zarco also ranks sixth in the riders’ championship as the highest non-Ducati on 38 points. Marini is the next-best Honda in 10th with 26 ahead of Mir in 17th with 10 and LCR rookie Somkiat Chantra in 23rd as the Thai rider’s wait for his first MotoGP point lingers.

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

Problems have persisted with the RC213V despite Honda’s improvement, though, with their bike’s lack of top speed compared especially to Ducati a major problem. So, Speedweek now reports Honda hope the private test in Valencia helps to improve the RC213V’s speed deficit.

Honda are not making wholesale changes to the makeup of the bike as they intend to retain the basic concept of the RC213V. But they hope the parts Bradl and Espargaro are testing in Valencia can improve its top speed with it a huge gripe for their riders over the early rounds.

Joan Mir has begged Honda for ‘the tools to fight’ with more top speed from their bike

While Marini and Mir disagreed about Honda’s problems after pre-season testing, the Italian bemoaned that the RC213V was ‘missing top speed’ after Honda improved its braking ability and grip. The Spaniard has also lamented its deficit on the straights compared to their rivals.

Mir complained about Honda’s lack of top speed at the Grand Prix of the Americas where he ended the weekend 16th in the speed traps. He was especially frustrated with the RC213V’s lack of top speed after crashing out of the Sprint Race trying to overcome the bike’s failings.

“We can take the positives and say we are fast and we made the same lap time as Pecco,” Mir declared, via Crash. “But I don’t feel that I have the tools to fight. We are amongst the last ones in terms of top speed.”