Just as quickly as it began, Joan Mir and Luca Marini have wrapped up the Buriram Test and now all attentions turn to the opening race of 2026. Honda HRC looking to make the most of the few days between the test and the race for final improvements.
Just as quickly as it began, Joan Mir and Luca Marini have wrapped up the Buriram Test and now all attentions turn to the opening race of 2026. Honda HRC looking to make the most of the few days between the test and the race for final improvements.
| | | | Sunday, 22nd February 2026 | | | | Buriram Test, Chang International Circuit | | | Honda HRC Castrol conclude pre-season testing in Thailand | | | | | | Just as quickly as it began, Joan Mir and Luca Marini have wrapped up the Buriram Test and now all attentions turn to the opening race of 2026. Honda HRC looking to make the most of the few days between the test and the race for final improvements. | | |  | Hot and humid conditions continued steadily throughout the second day of testing in Buriram, a final chance to acclimatise before the first race of the year. These conditions allowed the Honda HRC Castrol squad to run through a comprehensive testing plan to put everything in place for the 2026 season. Concluding the Buriram Test as the tenth fastest rider on the second day and just over half a second off the quickest rider of the day, Joan Mir continued his strong form on the Honda RC213V. Top Honda throughout the Buriram Test, the 2020 World Champion was hoping for some more overall speed after a very competitive end to 2025 and a positive first test in Sepang but he remains confident Honda HRC's engineers will find a few cards up their sleeves before the lights go out. Diligently working until the very last moment, Luca Marini completed the last day of the last test in 13th and less than two tenths off his Honda HRC Castrol teammate. Throughout both the Sepang and Buriram Tests, the #10 has been able to post competitive times and consistently be within a second of the fastest rider. Times will be tight when the lights go out on Saturday and Sunday, but the Italian is confident in picking up where he left off and challenging for the top positions. It's time to put our learnings to the test as the newest MotoGP World Championship season is set to begin on Friday, February 27 at the Chang International Circuit when the bikes roll out for Free Practice 1. | | |
| | |  | | | Joan Mir 36 | | Honda HRC Castrol | | | | | "We have had a pre-season with a lot of potential, but of course you're always wanting more as a rider. This track for us, but especially me, has been more difficult than the last few circuits. The grip wasn't quite there for us, and it was there for some other guys, so we spent a lot of the test playing with the geometry of the bike. There are a couple of options with the direction of the bike to try and make ourselves more competitive. We have a few days for everyone to find a couple more solutions before we go racing, so let's make the most of it and be competitive when the racing starts." | | | | | |
| | |  | | | Luca Marini 10 | | Honda HRC Castrol | | | | | "The bike has improved a lot with the engine, the aero and the braking phase and we have to be pleased with this. Everyone has worked hard over the winter and these two tests and I know they will keep working hard throughout the year. We need to stay focused on the things we are missing to go faster, just a little more time to improve these parts. I am looking forward to the race to see where everyone really is, Qualifying will be very important in this first race so we need to prepare well for it. I think our potential is easily in the top seven, maybe even more if we can find a few things with the bike in these next few days." | | | | | |
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