The recent Italian Grand Prix at Mugello starkly revealed the performance gap between Honda and its MotoGP rivals, according to Joan Mir.
Following a promising run at the Catalan Grand Prix—which ended with a podium finish later nullified by a post-race tyre pressure penalty—Honda’s fortunes dipped in Italy. LCR rookie Diogo Moreira stood out by qualifying eighth and finishing in the top 10 in both the sprint and main races, showcasing early pace at the front.
Joan Mir was the next-best Honda rider, finishing 12th after starting from 15th on the grid. Despite signs of improvement last season, Honda currently remains the fourth-best manufacturer in MotoGP.
Mir believes Mugello exposes Honda’s ongoing struggles, attributing them to conservative updates from HRC. “At tracks like this, our lack of performance is clear, especially compared to KTM, Aprilia, and Ducati,” Mir commented. He emphasized that if Honda doesn’t keep up with development, the gap to the leaders will only grow.
Looking ahead, Mir is hopeful that the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix will better suit Honda’s strengths, offering a chance to score more points and close the gap.
During the race, Mir also had a close encounter with Raul Fernandez after the Trackhouse rider went wide at Turn 1 and rejoined at the back. However, Mir understood Fernandez’s aggressive moves, acknowledging the pressure on riders fighting for a seat next season. “He’s in a position where he has to take risks—if not now, then when? He’s got one of the best bikes, and it’s normal for him to push hard,” Mir explained.
As the season progresses, all eyes are on Honda to see if new developments can help them regain ground on their MotoGP rivals.
