The Sepang shakedown was very productive for Joan Mir. In just two days, shortened due to rain, the Repsol Honda rider had a myriad of solutions and innovations to test, confirming the manufacturer’s determination to return to success. However, he still doesn’t feel ready to start the season.
Quoted by GPOne.com, the rider from Palma de Mallorca explained that there was a lot of material and solutions to test, admitting that he still can’t make final choices regarding the engine: ‘These extra days were definitely a big help, and honestly, it’s good to be back riding these bikes. […]. Today we did many laps, but it was a shame about the rain on these days because we had other things to try. In any case, I think these were two good days, and it’s crazy the amount of things we were able to try. We have to understand the direction to take because we tested different bikes and different engines, with a different character, and the truth is that right now I can’t choose one. Let’s say the new one may have some positive aspects, but right now, we can’t see the full potential of this second bike’.
In these two shakedown days, Mir had at his disposal an RC213V similar to the one he tested in Valencia with some changes, in addition to another identical bike with a different engine. Honda has worked hard over the past months to make progress, but the 2020 champion admitted that he still doesn’t feel prepared for the Qatar GP:
– We’ve seen many elements and many changes within Honda, and what I can see is that they want to get out of the situation we’re in. However, one thing is to want, and another is to achieve because the other manufacturers have done very well for several years and have a lot of information that we may lack. They have done many tests and have followed, for three/four years, or even more, the direction that we are now following. We are in this process, and we are taking good steps, but I don’t feel ready for the first race.