Repsol Honda Rebounds: Mir and Marini Optimistic Despite Indonesian Setbacks, Inspired by Zarco’s Standout Performance

Joan Mir and Luca Marini encouraged by Zarco’s showing

“Our motorcycle is becoming more competitive”

Luca Marini and Joan Mir, who are team-mates at Repsol Honda, had their dreams of success in the Indonesian MotoGP dashed within the first few turns of Sunday’s race.

Marini found himself immediately out of the race after being involved in a four-rider crash that occurred when Jack Miller lost control of the front of his KTM.

“It was simply unfortunate,” Marini commented. “This race was unusual; only 12 racers managed to finish, so earning points was straightforward today. However, my bike was wrecked, making it impossible for me to get back into the race.”

Mir veered off the track to avoid the crashed bikes and riders, reentering in the last position before he ultimately crashed on lap 13.

"I finished three seconds behind the last competitor," he mentioned. "At the start, it was really tough to get the tires warmed up since they were quite hard here. After that, I managed to catch up to Rins and pass him, began maintaining low 1:31 lap times, but then I lost control of the front end at the first turn."

"Over the weekend, I struggled to find a good connection with the bike. There were certain parts where I consistently faced difficulties. We need to analyze the situation, start fresh, and head to Motegi, which is a more conventional track, to reassess our performance."

Despite the Repsol riders finishing Sunday's race without any points, Johann Zarco from LCR secured Honda's top performance this season by finishing ninth. Starting from seventh on the grid, Zarco ended the race 15.5 seconds behind the winner after completing 27 laps.

To provide some perspective, that small difference would have placed Zarco just slightly behind Maverick Vinales in the battle for sixth position during the prior Emilia Romagna race.

"In Misano, I was the one who managed to achieve something extra, but here in this race, it was Johann," Mir commented. "He performed exceptionally with his team. They collaborated effectively and were adept at handling all the current issues with the bike. Additionally, Taka [Nakagami, who finished 11th] showed good speed. We hope that in Motegi, we can bring everything together and be quicker."

Marini described Zarco's showing as the highlight of the race.

"The competitiveness of our bike is improving, as evidenced by Johann's performance," the Italian remarked. "The difference in time between him and the leader is promising. Although I'm disappointed with my own result, I believe this is a positive time for the bike's development, and we should be pleased with this progress. We just need to keep working hard for the next race."

The upcoming event, which will take place at Motegi this weekend, is Honda's home race and marks Marini's debut as an RC213V rider.

Expressing his enthusiasm, he mentioned his excitement about competing in Japan as an HRC rider. He described Japan as an amazing place and shared that arriving there with this bike and in these colors is a dream for many. He added that he wants to savor the entire weekend.

“Certainly, the most enjoyable experience is on the track, and I am confident that we can perform strongly again, just as we did in Misano and Indonesia prior to the crash on Sunday.”

Mir, who finished twelfth in the rain-soaked Japanese MotoGP last year, commented: "Racing at Motegi holds a special significance for a Honda rider; I deeply felt it last year. It's an event you always anticipate, and I'm eager to deliver a performance that will excite all the Honda supporters."

Zarco leads the Honda riders in the world championship rankings, holding the 17th position with 31 points. Close behind is Nakagami in 18th place with 25 points, followed by Mir in 20th with 20 points, and Marini in 24th with just 5 points.

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