Joan Mir, the 2020 MotoGP world champion, has issued a stark warning to Honda, stating that they are 'far' behind Ducati in terms of Sprint pace at the Sepang MotoGP test. Mir's statement comes after a day of intense competition, where the gap between the top Ducati riders and the Honda team became increasingly apparent. Despite Mir's impressive 1m 56s time attack on day two, which secured him fifth place overall, the final day's Sprint race simulations revealed a significant disparity.
Mir admitted, 'It was good, but if you check the pace of the Ducati guys, especially Alex, we are far.' This candid assessment highlights the challenge Honda faces in closing the performance gap. While Mir noted improvements compared to last year, the Ducati team's progress has been more pronounced, as evidenced by their consistent pace.
The data supports Mir's claim. Excluding Mir's final lap, which was slower, his ten-lap simulation would have placed him 9.096s behind Alex Marquez, a margin that would have resulted in sixth place in the previous Sprint race. Gresini's Marquez, now on factory-spec machinery, also impressed with a blistering 1m 57.295s lap early in his Sprint simulation, showcasing the competitive advantage Ducati holds.
Mir acknowledged the disparity, stating, 'We didn’t make any revolutions, but small evolutions in many areas have allowed us to improve a little bit and ride in better lap times. But it’s not that we made a huge step in one area.' Despite these improvements, Mir identified 'grip' as the bike's main weakness, stating, 'Grip is the only thing we should focus on a bit more. Because with more grip, you can control the spin more, your drop on the tyre is less, so it’s everything.'
While Honda has made progress, the team faces a challenging task in closing the gap to Ducati. The final pre-season test in Buriram will be crucial, as Honda must choose their final engine spec for the 2026 season. With the team's focus on improving grip and overall performance, the question remains: Can Honda bridge the gap and challenge for top positions in the upcoming season?
