Honda factory team's two riders, Joan Mir and Luca Marini, are heading to Assen this weekend's Dutch MotoGP with the goal of finishing in the top five. Both riders plan to maintain the form they've shown in recent races on this track.
Honda's rising form
Marini finished in the top ten six times in the nine races completed this season; his best result of the season was fifth place at Balaton Park. Mir, meanwhile, achieved both top ten and top five finishes in Brno, marking his first top ten finish in a main race this season for the 2020 world champion. LCR Honda rider Diogo Moreira also contributed to Honda's momentum by finishing sixth at the Hungarian GP.
On the other hand, the situation in Assen is striking for Honda: The last time a Honda rider finished in the top five at this track was in 2019. That year, Marc Marquez won the race while Cal Crutchlow also finished on the podium. While the current season's Honda RC213V is considered to be at a more competitive level compared to previous years, a top-five finish remains a challenging goal at the Assen track, where overtaking is difficult.
Pilots' statements
Mir said ahead of the weekend: “I’m going to Assen with positive feelings; it looks like it’s going to be a very hot weekend, it could be the hottest race finish there ever. It’s a very different track from Brno and Hungary, but I think we can continue to show our potential. If we repeat the Czech weekend, I know a top five finish is possible. We haven’t had much luck in recent years, but luck can always change.”
Marini, meanwhile, highlighted the critical importance of qualifying: “Our goal for the weekend is clear: to be strong on Friday afternoon. Overtaking can be quite difficult in Assen; therefore, starting from the top four on Sunday will make our job much easier. As a team, we have worked hard to improve the bike over the last few races; I believe we will be at our best form of the season when the lights go out. Judging by the weather, I don't remember such a hot Dutch GP; in the past, rain was much more likely in Assen, we will see how this heat will affect the race.”