Sepang International Circuit
Mir returns with Q2 performance on Friday in Malaysia
The Honda HRC Castrol team were back to full strength in Sepang, Joan Mir showing he has lost none of his speed to pass directly to Q2 while Luca Marini kept some energy in reserve for Saturday.
Having both been declared fit for the weekend on Thursday, Joan Mir and Luca Marini were eager to get out on track to fully assess their condition aboard the Honda RC213V. With the ambient temperature climbing into the mid 30s, the Malaysian Grand Prix presented as strong a physical challenge as ever which both Mir and Marini conquered. More than their physical condition and the weather, the track surface at the Sepang International Circuit presented another element to contend with for all riders.
Friday was a day of exceeding expectations for the returning Joan Mir, able to immediately pick up where he left off and secure a sport directly in Q2. A best lap of 1’57.618 put the #36 tenth at the end of the day and two tenths faster than his best Friday time of 2025 despite having missed the previous races. The result was a welcome boost to Mir, confirmation and unequivocal proof that his efforts to recover were not in vain as he finished the day as the top Honda rider. His ambitions for the weekend remain realistic; confirm his condition and set up for a strong end to the year.
Luca Marini balanced outright speed and saving energy for the key moments of the weekend as he tested himself after missing the Australian Grand Prix. Still missing some power and energy from his usual maximum, the Italian did what he needed to do with an eye on Saturday and Sunday. Setting a best time of 1’58.462 had Marini in 17th, 0.8s from his teammate but ready to push for more tomorrow and Sunday. A stone through the radiator of his Honda RC213V late in the session ended his final time attack early.
Joan Mir 36 Honda HRC Castrol
“I am really happy with how the day has gone, it was a much better day than I was expecting to be completely honest. I know that when I feel good and the bike is working well that I can be fast and show my potential and after the period we have been through – confirming that again today was even more than I was aiming for. It’s probably the most important pass to Q2 that I can remember for me. The bike was feeling good and this gave me the confidence to push from the start. Unfortunately, the condition of the track has suffered and there are quite a lot of stones coming up – it’s something to watch for when you are following someone.”
Luca Marini 10 Honda HRC Castrol
“My condition is still not perfect, and I was expecting to feel a bit better, the two-time attacks were tough physically and this is costing us a final few tenths. I think that tomorrow we will be able to deliver a stronger result after saving a bit of energy today. It’s true that the circuit is in a more complicated situation than we have experienced in the past. A stone hit the radiator right at the end so I lost the final part of the time attack, it can happen and did not change our fortunes.”
