Mir, the 2020 world champion, joins Honda on a two-year deal from this season after being left with out a trip when Suzuki elected to stop MotoGP on the finish of 2022.
Having made his Honda debut in November within the post-race Valencia take a look at, Mir spent three full days on the RC213V at Sepang this weekend, ending up twelfth total and simply over a tenth of a second shy of eight-time world champion Marquez.
Mir says he’s “having fun with” the method of adapting to the Honda, however echoed feedback made by Marquez that the RC213V is “still far” from being as competitive as reigning world champions Ducati – who topped all three days of the Sepang test.
Consequently, he says he’s targeted on closing that hole reasonably than on any private satisfaction in his inter-team battle with Marquez.
“I’m completely happy about these three days,” Mir started. “I used to be capable of be taught quite a bit and trip extra within the type that the Honda requested to me.
“I’m having fun with driving in that method, so on a regular basis I’m driving higher and I’m having fun with the method.
“If you benefit from the course of, all the things is less complicated, and the lap occasions got here sooner and to trip solely this bike for 3 or 4 days and to have the ability to be this aggressive, I feel it’s okay.
“However, we’re nonetheless removed from the Ducatis particularly and the Aprilia. We’d like a step.
“In fact, you at all times have a look at your team-mate to see the place the bike is. But when each of us enhance to the Ducatis, I might be tremendous completely happy. So, I’m pondering extra concerning the Ducatis.”
Joan Mir, Repsol Honda Crew
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Honda labored by way of an exhaustive testing programme at Malaysia, with Marquez beginning with 4 bikes initially.
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Evaluating how Honda works in comparison with how Suzuki used to, Mir famous: “I’m completely happy about the best way of working that they’ve.
“There are much more folks listening to you than in Suzuki. That is good, and in addition there’s much more folks working behind you.”