Honda’s struggles in the last four MotoGP seasons have been evident, but a promising pre-season test in Sepang as Joan Mir happy about where they stand.

Honda have not done enough to suggest they can be challengers for race wins yet💞, however, the paꦰce shown by Mir in particular was very strong at Sepang, particularly on day three. 

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Seven tenths off Francesco Bagnaia who set a new unofficial lap record, Mir was plea🥂sed with both his one lap pace and race simulation.

“The real🦂ity is that w𝔉e’ve been a lot faster than last year,” said Mir. “We have to be happy because we improved. On the other hand, we are not where we want to be.

“Today I was able to make a 57.3 which w🍌as a good lap time. When I was trying to make the second tyre work I crashed on the out lap at the final corner when I opened the line. 

“There was something on the track and I lost the fron🍒t there. 

"So I couldꦍn’t make the lap there and maybe I could have improved. When I pushed the lap time was there. 

“It’s not every day that you make a 57.3. This is a good lap ti🌱me. We improved more than the others because we are closer.

“Then, we made ten laps in a row and I was able to stཧay in the 1m 58s which is not bad. I saw 𝄹the laps of Pecco and Martin and they were in the 58 low/medium and I was in the 58 high.

“There is half a sec🎃ond there in pace with all the stuff we need to improve, but we know that we need to improve. We♈ gave good comments and in Qatar we will have something more, I’m sure.”

While the RC213V has seemingly taken a step forward in many areas, it’s the front-end feeling that Mir is most excited a𒆙bout.

“I h❀ave a better feeling with the front,” a🦋dded Mir. “This is great. I feel worse when the heat comes up. 

"😼When the track surface is high we don’t have a lot of grip so you have to work with the front, but the temperature rises up and it’s more difficult to stop the bike.

“That is a point where you always make a difference and 🅠we cannot make this difference.

“But💛 we impr𒉰oved and we have to say that in Japan they did a very good job.

“I expect🦂 to have something more in Qatar. If we make another step forward we will be very close.”