“Different engine” at Honda, but Joan Mir spinning “almost 90% of the lap”

Joan Mir reveals Repsol Honda were using a 🎃'different🅺 engine configuration' in Catalunya, but Sunday's grand prix 'a nightmare'.

Joan Mir, 2024 Catalan MotoGP
Joan Mir, 2024 Catalan MotoGP

Honda and Yamaha have been cagey about confirming the use of any revised engine specs this season, as now allowed under their revised MotoGP concession status.

But the Catalunya weekend began with Monster Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo admitting a slightly revised M1 spec was raced at Jerez and ended with Repsol Honda’s 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Joan Mir rev🔯ealing ♈a “different engine configuration” in Barcelona.

Unfor♍tunately for Mir and Honda, it was a case of making “one step back to make two steps forward in the futu🀅re.”

“Honestly, a nightmare,” Mir sꦗaid of his race, after finishing in 15th place, 33 seconds from winner Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and a fraction behind the top RC213V of LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami.

“I expected to struggle in this track. We are using a different engine configuration and I don’t 💦feel good with it. 

"The spin level probably is worse than the other [standardꦿ] one. And then the top speed is muc🎀h less.

“So in the ot✅her races, I was able to be a lot closer to the top and fight with the group around the top ten. Here I didn't have any option to do that.

“We've probably made one step back to make tꦫwo steps forw🙈ard in the future, but at the moment it's tough and the situation is like this... It’s even worse.”

But the for꧟mer world champion at leꩵast confirmed “the margin is higher” with the new engine configuration, after battling turning and traction problems so far this season.

“I think it's the right choice,𝓡 but [this low grip track] is the worst scenario. Honestly, you are spinning for almost 90% of the lap.

“Whatever tyre you put on the rear, you spin. This is a little bꦉit our s🏅tory at the moment.

But here is the worst scenario that we can have so [Mugello] can just be better🃏.”

Mi🥃r was followed across the finish line by the Hondas of Johann Zar🔥co and Repsol team-mate Luca Marini.

Zarco had new aero on his LCR 💯bike this weekend, which Mir and ♛Marini are yet to homologate.

Test rider and wild-card Stefan Bradl wa♓s 20-seconds💫 further adrift in 19th.

Read More