Joan Mir felt comfortable with the Misano test bike – That’s why he wants to test this Honda at another track – Marc Marquez passes on it
Joan Mir will ride out the Japanese Grand Prix on the Honda development bike that Stefan Bradl contested his wildcard with at Misano. Mir and Marc Marquez tried out this bike at the Monday test there.
While Mir felt positive aspects, Marquez did not recognise any significant progress. Therefore, he will ride the proven package in Motegi. Mir will give this new development another try on Friday.
The engine and the homologated aerodynamic parts are the same. Therefore, it is possible to use this further developed version during the season. In principle, this new Honda differs by a different chassis, a different geometry and a different seating position.
“In Misano I rode it more comfortably,” Mir explains the reasons why he wants to try this bike on another track. “I was a bit faster. Especially with used tyres, my pace was better.”
“That’s why I want to try it because I was faster with it in Misano than with the previous bike. In India, I was competitive with the previous bike. Now we have that in the back of our minds.”
“We will see if the new bike is a bit better. If I am happy with it, I will continue with it. But if I get any doubts, then I will continue with the standard bike, with the India base.”
The problem with Monday tests is that the track builds up an extreme amount of grip due to all the riding. That’s why findings can be distorted. A check on another track under normal conditions of a weekend can therefore be more informative.
“With my size I could ride better [with the new bike]. That alone makes a big step,” Mir says. “The chassis works the same, but when you’re in a better position on the bike you can shift better and you have more natural grip.”
“Even if it is a step, it is not the bike I want for next year. The engine is the same. We expect progress on the engine for the Valencia test. With an improved package and a new engine, we will see how it goes there. “
Marc Marquez will refrain from doing so at Motegi
Originally Mir wanted to ride this upgraded Misano bike already in India, because at the new track the Friday practice sessions were extended. That would have given enough time to make comparisons in peace.
But Honda sent the new bikes from Italy to Japan. That is why they were not on site in India, but can only now be tested again on the track in Motegi. Mir will be the only one of the four Honda riders to ride it on Friday.
“I’m not going to ride with it at the moment,” Marquez also confirmed at Motegi on Thursday. “In Misano I felt small progress but also negative aspects. But here the bike can be positive because there is a lot of stop-and-go. In that respect, the bike was very good. “
“But I don’t think this prototype is right to do a full season with. For me it doesn’t make sense to race one race with this chassis and the next with another.”
“That’s why I’m going to continue with my bike. I will test some little things that Honda asked me to do. But I basically continue with what I feel and what I believe in.”
That this bike from the Misano test is not the big step forward, Mir is also aware. It is a first development. “I see it quite simple,” says the former world champion. “The chassis works, but I don’t look much further ahead.”
“They are trying to develop the bike for 2024. The first prototype works. That’s welcome, but it doesn’t mean it’s the bike I want to ride in 2024. We are still far from what I want and what I need. “
