Joan Mir has delivered a blunt assessment of Honda's current MotoGP situation, admitting the Italian Grand Prix exposed the manufacturer's performance deficit against its leading rivals.
After showing encouraging signs in recent rounds, including a podium finish in Catalunya before a post-race tyre pressure penalty stripped him of the result, Honda endured a far more difficult weekend at Mugello.
The fast and flowing nature of the Italian circuit highlighted the RC213V's weaknesses, with Mir finishing as Honda's second-best rider in 12th place after starting 15th on the grid. Rookie Diogo Moreira provided one of the few bright spots for the manufacturer by qualifying eighth and securing top-10 finishes in both races.
Despite those positives, Mir believes Mugello offered a clear picture of where Honda stands compared to Ducati, Aprilia and KTM.
According to the 2020 MotoGP world champion, the concern is not only Honda's current performance level but also the rate of development among rival manufacturers.
Mir suggested that every time competitors arrive with new parts and improvements while Honda makes limited gains, the gap inevitably widens. He described Mugello as the type of circuit that exposes Honda's shortcomings more clearly than most tracks on the calendar.
The Spaniard pointed to the need for continued development from Honda Racing Corporation, warning that remaining too conservative with updates could make it increasingly difficult to close the gap to the front-running manufacturers.
While disappointed with the result in Italy, Mir remains hopeful that upcoming rounds could offer a more favourable opportunity. He believes the characteristics of the Balaton Park circuit in Hungary may suit both his riding style and the Honda package better, potentially allowing him to fight for more championship points.
Mir's race was not without incident. During the Grand Prix, he became involved in a close battle with Raul Fernandez after the Trackhouse rider dropped down the order following an early mistake.
However, Mir defended Fernandez's aggressive approach, noting that riders fighting for future MotoGP contracts often have to take greater risks on track. He acknowledged that Fernandez was riding one of the strongest bikes on the grid and understood why he was pushing hard to recover positions.
For Honda, the Mugello weekend served as a reminder that progress is being made, but significant work remains. While Moreira's performances offered encouragement for the future, Mir's comments underline the reality that Honda is still chasing the manufacturers currently setting the pace in MotoGP.
As the championship heads to Hungary, Honda's challenge will be to turn incremental progress into meaningful gains and ensure the gap to the front does not continue to widen.
