During the official MotoGP test in Jerez, Joan Mir surprised by opting for a new and mysterious ‘concept’ from Honda, instead of testing Stefan Bradl’s latest bike, after an unsatisfactory experience with it in a private test in Catalonia.
Although the new ‘concept’ did not offer any visible changes compared to its standard machine, it is speculated that an engine revision was the main change for this new concept.
Despite his modest position on the timesheets, Mir described the day as much more positive than he let on. He believes the new concept is the right direction for the future, especially given the crucial improvement in the RCV’s turning weakness.
The 2020 world champion stressed that there is still plenty of room for improvement, but warned that improving cornering comes at the cost of performance in other areas. He emphasized that this concept is more focused on the future than the present.
Meanwhile, his Repsol teammate Luca Marini reportedly tested one of Bradl’s new chassis, along with his standard spoiler, for 72 laps. Although he finished 23rd in the times, Marini expressed optimism about the progress made.
Marini stressed that while there is still a lot of work to be done, Honda is committed to moving forward and improving its bikes. This test provided important progress for the future, despite the recognition that they are still far from achieving their goals.
In short, the test in Jerez revealed important insights for Joan Mir and Luca Marini, highlighting Honda’s constant search for improvements and commitment to developing its machines. With these promising developments, the Repsol team is expected to achieve even better results in the upcoming races of the season.
