Joan Mir, the MotoGP champion in 2020, openly criticized Honda’s performance after a disastrous showing in Le Mans, highlighting ongoing issues with the Honda RC213V. The Spanish Grand Prix weekend saw Honda continue to struggle, with Johann Zarco only managing a 15th place in Q1, marking the best result for Honda riders who have largely been at the bottom of the time sheets.
Fans have become accustomed to seeing Honda riders fall behind, a trend that Mir believes will persist without significant updates from the manufacturer. “Unfortunately, there is nothing new to say. Until we have new parts, not much will change,” said Mir, expressing his frustration with the current state of affairs.
Mir pointed out that the current RC213V has even lost the few advantages it had over last year’s model, particularly in “stop-and-go” corners, where they were previously able to maintain a competitive pace. “We have lost one of our few strengths. Last year, we could keep a good pace coming out of tight corners. Now, even that advantage has disappeared,” lamented Mir.
Despite being in better physical condition this year, Mir feels that the main limitation is now the bike and not the rider. “This bike is performing much worse than last year’s, and I have been faster this year,” he commented, highlighting the paradox of improving personal performance while the machine lags behind.
As the MotoGP “silly season” heats up, with riders negotiating contracts for next year, Mir is exploring potential moves away from Honda. Mir is aware that recent performances may have a negative impact on his ability to secure a competitive contract, but remains confident that with a capable bike, he can quickly return to the front of the pack.
Looking ahead, Mir is cautiously optimistic about the upcoming tests at Mugello Circuit, although he admits uncertainty about what Honda will bring to the table in terms of new parts or improvements. “We have a new test in Italy, but I don’t know what we will test there. We also need to give time for the new people at Honda to adapt. But I have to admit that so far, I haven’t felt any improvement,” Mir concluded, hoping for significant changes but tempering his expectations.
