Joan Mir says he is “optimistic” Honda “did something great” with its 2025 bike in testing ahead of the new MotoGP season, but is unwillin𝓡g to make any bold pre𝔍dictions.

Honda finished 🅷last in the 2024 constructors’ championship with just 75 points after a miserable year in which the marque’s best result was an eighth in wet conditions in Thailand.

Though Honda has gained⛎ strong technical leadership in ex-Aprilia man Romano Albesiano, his influence is yet to truly take effect.

But that didn't stop Honda from making a clear step forward with it RC213V in testing, with Mir noting afterwards that it was the first time that he felt genuinely competitive in his time💦 with the brand.

Joan Mir previews Honda MotoGP 2025 hopes

Asked on Thuဣrsday ahead of the Thai Grand Prix what his optimism levels are, Mir said: “Not too high, but in a go🐓od mood I would say because I’m optimistic.

“I’m nervous to start the season🌼 because I want to see and to demonstrate and to understand.

“But from other parts, the last years I understood that I can’t be super optiꦐmistic because I need to protect a bit myself in case that it’s not working.

“This is also a mental game. So, Iඣ will try to give my best.

“Honestly, the pre-season was good, was positive, I🔴 was able to stay in the positions that I would like to be during the season.

“And not only once, all the days that we did. I hope to cont🌟inue in that line, I hope to not have unexpected problems.

“But on another hand, I’m optimistic that what we did in the test was something gre🍸at.

“Was something nice. We did a good long run. We did just one lap that I think we can improve. So, we’ve done everything to start the season more prep🍃ared than the last two years.”

Honda’s Japanese rival Yamaha also looks to have made a step forward over the winter, with several notable figures highlighting the latter with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fabio Quartararo as being potential threat in 2025.

Mir believes the race pace he showed in testing on the Honda was good e꧒nough for the “top five”, but doesn’t want to compare where HRC is relative to👍 Yamaha.

“Well, the reality is that in the test the long 𝔉run was very fast,” he said.

“I don’t want to look at that so much, becauseꦫ I d🐲on’t know how realistic it is.

“That is a bit the reality. I think that pace is the top five pace, but I don’t know Yama𒊎ha and in the case of Fabio, I don’t think his lap was good but his pace was good.

“And I’m sure they will make a step this wee🦄kend. As I said, I don’t want to look at that so much because I don’t want t⛎o be super optimistic.”

Quotes provided by Crash MotoGP Editor Peter McLaren