In recent days, there have been several rumors about Aleix Espargaró potentially becoming a test rider for Honda in MotoGP starting from 2025. Espargaró announced his retirement after this year, while the Japanese manufacturer seeks to bolster its efforts to significantly improve performance.
Joan Mir, one of the current Repsol Honda riders, believes that having a second test rider will be important: ‘If they want to do that, that looks that is true, is something very good for the project. Because to have new air from the outside and to be able to… we had Stefan [Bradl] for a lot of years and I appreciate his job, he always do great. But a lot of teams have two test riders, so probably to have another one to complement his job would be very helpful’.
On the other hand, the 2020 champion discussed the aspect of having a rider ready to replace main riders who might get injured: ‘Not only that: the Honda riders, we are the ones that get more injured probably – not this year, but in the past was a bit like this. And also this is important. I think that will be interesting to have a new one [test rider]’.
When asked if it’s important for a new test rider to come from another manufacturer, Mir replied: ‘I think so. Also with a rider who maybe has the experience to develop a bike, not only that just tried a bike that was fast and that’s it, because he doesn’t know the process’.