Mir wants Honda “intensity” on MotoGP development to get out of “Japanese Cup”

Honda was expected to make a leap in performance after revamping its approach towards MotoGP over the winter, as it began life without its star rider Marc Marquez in the factory Repsol team.

But a tough Qatar Grand Prix highlighted the scale of challenge it still faces in order to close the gap to the front, with 2020 champion Joan Mir left to squabble with Fabio Quartararo for 11th as Honda and Yamaha effectively competed in a secondary division behind their European rivals.

Mir was able to pass Quartararo’s improved Yamaha M1 in the closing stages of the race but overcooked his tyres in the process, eventually finishing the race in 13th place behind the similar RC213V of LCR rider Johann Zarco.

Explaining the race from his point of view, Mir said: “I overtook quite a lot of riders. I started in 18th and then I was very close to the front guys, I could see the front group.

“I was behind Fabio all the race. Then in the last five laps I decided to overtake him because I thought I had something more.

“Then I started to push, I opened a gap of one second and I killed the tyre. I f****d everything what I did all the race in the last two laps.

“I could enjoy a bit, fighting for the ‘Japanese Cup’, even leading the ‘Japanese Cup’.

“But then I was too optimistic in the last five laps. I didn’t expect such a big drop on the tyres.”

Honda has made significant changes in the way it operates in MotoGP, and it is much more responsive in taking rider feedback and bringing new parts to the bike.

But Ducati, KTM and Aprilia appear to have made much bigger steps over the winter, leading to an even wider gulf in performance between the European marques and the Japanese motorcycles in the opening round of the season.

Honda and Yamaha will be able to take advantage of a new system of concessions throughout the season, giving it the opportunity to test more freely with race riders and also introduce updates to their engines.

Mir feels Honda has to maintain the same rate of development it has shown since it first debuted a 2024 prototype at Misano last year if it stands any chance of catching up with its European rivals in 2024.

“Our bike improved from the last time, [but] the others improved a lot,” he said.

“I don’t know what position we would be last year with our race time of today, I think not very far from the top positions.