The 2025 season presents itself as a turning point for Honda, which seems to finally be catching up. During the recent tests in Sepang, the brand’s riders noted significant improvements, but the battle with Ducati still seems distant. In fact, although Joan Mir is optimistic, he is aware of the long road ahead to compete with the frontrunners of the category.
Visible progress but insufficient
During the recent sprint simulations, the entire field showed a clear advantage for the riders of the Ducati GP26, which did not fail to dampen the hopes of Honda’s riders. Although Joan Mir has acknowledged finding a satisfactory rhythm, it is clear that Ducati’s performance level remains a step above. “It was good, but if we look at the pace of the Ducati riders, Álex [Márquez] in particular, we are far off, right…?” he remarked, aware that the road ahead is still long.
Mir also highlighted his personal performances, mentioning a time of 1’58 during the longest part of his stint. “It’s not a bad pace,” he states, while emphasising that the Ducatis seem to have made a leap forward during this pre-season. The reality is harsh, and it seems that the Bologna manufacturer has made the right technical decisions.
Increasingly fierce competition
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During his sprint simulation, Álex Márquez managed to lap in the low 1’57 window, a performance that Mir considers unattainable for him with his current machine. “I wish I could do a few laps with those times! It’s almost a time attack!” he jokes. But behind this laughter, frustration is palpable. “If I do that time, on the next lap I’ll do a 2’01 because I’ll have completely burned out the tyre!” A bitter diagnosis that underscores the gap between Honda’s performance and that of its direct competitors.
Ducati, a formidable rival
For Mir, the gap is also widening due to Ducati’s notable advances. “From what I can see, we have progressed and I think Ducati has also made some progress,” he admits. In a category where every millisecond counts, the competition is fiercer than ever. “They have taken a step forward, we need to take three,” he summarises, aware that the war of nerves is far from over.
Luca Marini shares the same diagnosis
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On the Ducati side, Luca Marini also has similar observations. For him, Honda has not yet closed the gap with the top brands. “We still have many manufacturers ahead of us, but we are getting closer,” he emphasises cautiously. The competition leaves no room for complacency, and every rider must fight for positions.
Marini is satisfied with the improvements made to his bike, especially in corner entry, but remains realistic: “All manufacturers seem to have progressed, so the gap is about the same as for the Grand Prix here.” This collective awareness could play in Honda’s favour, as long as they continue to advance.
Towards a decisive first race
The challenge remains immense for Honda. The riders know they must keep working to stay in the race. “We have to keep attacking, keep working like this,” insists Marini. The next race in Thailand will be crucial to fine-tune the bike’s settings before the official start of the season. The pressure is mounting, and every detail will count.
Fans of MotoGP can expect a season full of twists, where the battle between the brands will be more intense than ever. The fight for the podium promises to be exciting, but it will require unwavering determination from the Honda team to close the gap that separates them from the leaders.
