Repsol Honda teammates Joan Mir and Luca Marini faced disappointment at the Indonesian MotoGP, as their hopes for a strong finish evaporated early in the race. A multi-rider incident occurred when Jack Miller lost control of his KTM, immediately sidelining Marini.
“Just bad luck,” Marini remarked, acknowledging the unexpected turn of events. “This race was quite strange; only 12 riders finished, making it easier to earn points. However, my bike was destroyed, so rejoining the race was impossible.”
Mir also struggled, forced off the track while navigating the aftermath of the incident. He managed to rejoin the race in last place but ultimately crashed out on lap 13. “I was already three seconds behind,” he explained. “It was challenging to warm up the tyres at the beginning due to the hard conditions here. I managed to catch and overtake Rins and was running low 31s until I lost the front in turn one. This weekend, I couldn’t find a good feeling with the bike; I struggled in several areas. We need to reset and head to Motegi, which is a more ‘normal’ track, and see where we stand.”
Despite the challenges faced by the Repsol riders, LCR’s Johann Zarco delivered Honda’s best result of the season, finishing ninth after starting from seventh on the grid, finishing 15.5 seconds behind the winner after 27 laps. To put this performance into context, Zarco’s finish would have placed him just behind Maverick Vinales for sixth in the previous Emilia Romagna round.
Mir acknowledged that he stepped up in Misano, but here it was Johann who did. “He did an excellent job with the team. They worked well together and managed the issues we’re currently facing with the bike. Taka [Nakagami], who finished 11th, was also fast, so I hope we can bring our best to Motegi and improve.”
Marini described Zarco’s performance as the highlight of the race. “Our bike is becoming more competitive, and Johann’s performance is promising,” he noted. “The gap between him and the winner is encouraging. It’s unfortunate for my result, but it’s a great moment for the bike’s development, and we need to keep working for the next race.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming Honda home round at Motegi, Marini expressed excitement for his first race as an RC213V rider. “I can’t wait to race in Japan as an HRC rider. It’s an incredible country, and arriving there with this bike and these colours is a dream for many. I want to enjoy the entire weekend.”
Mir, who finished twelfth in last year’s wet Japanese MotoGP, echoed Marini’s sentiments. “Motegi is special for Honda riders, and I felt that last year. It’s something you always look forward to, and I’m excited to give Honda fans something to cheer about.”
Currently, Zarco leads Honda riders in the championship standings, sitting in 17th place with 31 points. Nakagami follows in 18th with 25 points, while Mir holds 20th with 20 points, and Marini is in 24th with 5 points.
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