Chang International Circuit (Thailand), 2 March 2025: The Thai GP rounded off a positive first weekend of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship for Honda HRC Castrol, Luca Marini taking 12th after an early mistake and Joan Mir showing top ten speed before an unfortunate fall
Progress continued at pace inside the Honda HRC Castrol garage as the first Sunday of 2025 arrived at the Chang International Circuit. Oppressive conditions met the MotoGP paddock as they arrived, ambient temperatures quickly climbing towards 40°C in the morning. Undeterred, Luca Marini and Joan Mir completed their final preparations ahead of the race with a few final tweaks in Warm Up.
Luca Marini’s 26-lap Thai GP was a race of recovery, the Italian dropping back to last at the first corner after an early error just before the start line. Putting his head down, Marini steadily worked his way through the field to quickly return to battling for the points. Ending just over half a second back from Jack Miller, the Italian finished in 12th position – matching his best result from the 2024 season which was also achieved during the Thai GP. Although his full potential was masked, Marini leaves Thailand pleased with the work done and ready to deliver on his, and the Honda RC213V’s, full potential next time out.
A lightning start when the lights went out had Joan Mir immediately battling with the top ten as he continued to show his impressive improvement in pace over the previous season. Unfortunately, a crash at the last corner while chasing down Miller ended Mir’s race early, the 2020 World Champion unable to remount and continue. Despite the fall, the #36 has had his confidence boosted by the overall shape and result of the weekend – a clear change in fortunes from the 2024 Thai GP.
There will now be a brief moment of rest before the Honda HRC Castrol team return to action in just under two weeks’ time at the Argentina GP, March 14 to 16.
Commenting after the round off, Luca Marini said, “A good first test for the physical and mental side, we can be satisfied with how this weekend has gone. We were able to improve our pace over the weekend. Today’s race was not as physically demanding as the Sprint, you ride these long races in a different way and there were some clouds around today. More will come; we have been able to make a really good step since we were last here – just a few months ago. At the start I made a mistake with the start procedure because I arrived late and was rushing, but then I put together a really good race to come from last at the first corner to 12th. Without this we could have been up there with Mir and Zarco, fighting inside the top ten. I am happy with what we have done, and I know more will come as the season progresses.”
While Joan Mir stated, “We were having a really good weekend and a really good race; I think that what we have shown up until the crash demonstrates the improvements that myself and Honda have made during the off season. I made a small mistake trying to chase down Jack and with the conditions I wasn’t able to save it. We were putting together a really great race after losing some positions right at the start. The bike was very hot, like it was for everyone, and we need to keep working a bit on this in future races with similar conditions. A shame to end like this because I think we had the potential to fight in the front of the group, around the top five. It’s something last year we did not feel, proving we are heading in the right direction. We have lived our hardest moment this weekend and now more will come.”