Hope on the Horizon: Honda Riders Find Optimism Amid Progress at Emilia-Romagna GP

Honda's MotoGP competitors are experiencing a turning point at the Emilia-Romagna GP, expressing newfound confidence: “This was the first race where I felt I could truly be aggressive”.

The successful attainment of points across the board for Honda in the Emilia-Romagna MotoGP has left its riders with a sense of hope as the championship moves towards its Asian leg.

Finishing 11th and 12th may not be remembered as one of Repsol Honda Team's finest moments, yet there was a sense of hope among the HRC factory team, even though they didn't crack the top 10 once again.

The positive outlook is fueled by improvements made for the second race at Misano, the Emilia-Romagna, which occurs two weeks following the San Marino Grand Prix, after a testing session at the track a few weeks prior.

"It was an excellent race, the first occasion where I was truly able to give it my all, genuinely engage with the riding experience, and relish my time on the bike," expressed Repsol Honda's Joan Mir after the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix last Sunday.

Mir ultimately finished in 11th place in the race, after initially dropping to the rear at the beginning.

"I got off to a strong start, but then Raul [Fernandez] took a pretty aggressive approach going into the first few turns, causing me to go off track and fall to the back of the pack," he explained.

"After that, I focused intently and began to advance, particularly in the latter half of the race where I was truly satisfied with how I performed. It wasn't just about passing others, but also about maintaining lap times that matched those of the top ten racers."

"Securing the 11th spot is a commendable achievement considering our starting point, and it's genuinely encouraging to witness progress throughout the weekend. I must extend my gratitude to my team for their exceptional effort this weekend, my debut in Misano; they effectively enhanced the overall experience in a short period. This uplifts our spirits as we prepare for the upcoming races in Asia."

Luca Marini, who is part of the Repsol Honda team alongside Joan Mir, experienced a successful weekend at Misano. The Italian rider saw improvements from the latest enhancements Honda made to the RC213V, achieving his highest finish of the season in 12th place.

"Marini expressed his satisfaction with the weekend, stating, "It was thoroughly enjoyable, and there are numerous positive aspects to highlight. The enhancements provided by the Japanese have led to a strong setup; the engineers have put in significant work, and it's beginning to reflect in our outcomes."

The initial three circuits are still pretty challenging at the back; we have to focus on improving this area. Despite beginning in 15th position, there's a gap in our performance during the early laps that hinders our ability to compete effectively with the rest.

"The latest aerodynamic enhancements have significantly contributed, yet we've also made considerable progress in various minor aspects during our recent sessions. We're approaching the Indonesia race with a positive outlook, eager to maintain this momentum. A huge thanks to all the team members for their relentless effort and unwavering dedication throughout the season."

Despite facing multiple challenges during his race, Johann Zarco of LCR Honda managed to secure a point by finishing in 15th place.

"Zarco expressed to MotoGP.com, “My performance exceeded my expectations. I felt quite powerful early on in the race, which is really positive, and executing some effective moves brought me joy."

"However, I was unable to catch up to Jack Miller — he was having difficulties, and I ended up losing time. Following that, [Joan] Mir managed to catch up, and I made an error while trailing him.

"Therefore, there were two errors on my part: failing to pass Jack and nearly colliding with Joan Mir. Consequently, I ended up losing significant time and made efforts to recover as best as I could."

"I'm pleased that I managed to secure a point, which matters when concluding a weekend, as it means you have something to show for it.

"Honda has made some advancements, which is a good sign before heading out for international competitions. My aspiration is that, by leveraging my experience and relishing the racing circuits, I'll be able to come close to ranking within the top 10."

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