Factory Honda MotoGP rider Joan Mir described his 2025 Argentina Grand Prix as “desperate,” citing the RC213V’s lack of power as a major issue. Despite Honda showing signs of progress from pre-season testing and the Thai Grand Prix, Mir struggled to match the pace of teammate Johann Zarco throughout the weekend.
At the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, Zarco delivered Honda’s best qualifying result since Mugello 2023 by securing a spot in the top three. He went on to finish fourth in the sprint and sixth in the grand prix. Honda also managed to place two riders inside the top 10 in the main race—a rare feat since 2023—with Luca Marini later being promoted to 10th after Ai Ogura’s disqualification.
Mir, however, qualified 10th and finished eighth in the sprint and ninth in the main race. He was narrowly beaten by KTM’s Pedro Acosta, and he attributed his difficulties to the Honda’s lack of engine power. This deficit forced him to push harder on the brakes, causing his front tire to overheat and limiting his ability to make overtakes.
“The race was desperate,” Mir admitted. “I fought all race with the KTMs, which have faster engines than ours. To defend my position, I had to push aggressively on the brakes, which overheated the front tire. It was a major challenge just to finish the race.”
While Mir acknowledged that Honda has made improvements, he expressed frustration at being unable to fully exploit the bike’s potential. “Every time I reached the straight, the rider behind would overtake me. I couldn’t use my strength in braking due to the front tire pressure and overheating. We need to figure out how to improve in these situations,” he said.
Despite his dissatisfaction, Mir remains optimistic about his ability to compete. “I can see how this year I’m able to fight, which is a positive step. But as a rider, I always want more.”
Honda’s recent results reflect a positive shift in form. The brand now holds second place in the constructors’ standings for the first time since the 2023 Americas GP, which was also their last grand prix victory. Additionally, Honda has achieved consecutive weekends with points hauls of 10 or more—a milestone they had not reached since the Indonesian and Japanese GPs in 2023. Throughout the 2024 season, the team never scored more than nine points in a single weekend, making this recent improvement a promising sign for the Japanese manufacturer.
