Honda’s Joan Mir is eyeing another breakthrough as he targets a top-five finish at the upcoming Dutch MotoGP in Assen. Both Mir and teammate Luca Marini are determined to keep Honda’s momentum going after posting their best results of the season in recent rounds.
Mir comes into the weekend fresh from a strong outing at Brno, where he secured his first top ten—and top five—finish in a main race this season. Marini, meanwhile, achieved a fifth place at Balaton Park, while LCR Honda’s Diogo Moreira added to the team’s run of form with a sixth-place at the Hungarian GP. For Mir, these results represent the level he believes Honda is capable of reaching.
“I’m feeling good heading to Assen, which looks set to be the hottest weekend there yet!” Mir said. “It’s a unique track, different from Brno and Hungary, but I think we can keep showing our potential. Many riders and bikes have been strong here in the past, and if we repeat our Czech performance, a top five is possible. We’ve had some bad luck recently, but luck can always change. Let’s make the most of this weekend.”
Honda has not cracked the top five at Assen since Marc Marquez’s win and Cal Crutchlow’s podium in 2019, making this year’s goal particularly ambitious—especially as overtaking at Assen is notoriously tough.
On the other side of the Honda garage, Marini is also optimistic. With six top tens from the first nine rounds, he knows the importance of a strong start at Assen. “Our objective is clear: be strong on Friday afternoon,” Marini explained. “Assen can be tricky for overtaking, so starting in the first four rows will make a big difference. My side of the team has been working well to keep improving the bike, and I’m confident we’ll be at our best when the lights go out.”
Marini also noted the unusual weather forecast: “I can’t remember a Dutch GP this hot! Usually, we’re dealing with rain in Assen, so let’s see how this changes things.”
With renewed confidence and recent results on their side, both Mir and Marini are setting ambitious targets as Honda looks to reclaim its place among the frontrunners at Assen.
