An incredible effort during Qualifying saw Joan Mir equal his best qualifying as a Honda rider with fifth, but lady luck once again left as the lights went out. Luca Marini worked through a complicated day to take 15th. Hopes of more to come on Sunday for both Honda HRC Castrol riders.
Joan Mir equaled his best Qualifying result on the Honda RC213V as a near perfectly executed lap in Q2 saw him secure fifth on the grid. Starting on the second row of the grid for the first time since the 2023 Indian Grand Prix, Mir was prepared to dive straight into battle but a poor start due to a still to be diagnosed issue dropped him down the order. A gamble on the medium rear to match the choice of other riders further complicated the Sprint for Mir. Crossing the line down in 19th, he remained characteristically upbeat and focused on putting the pieces together on Sunday. Saturday’s Qualifying efforts prove the still-growing potential of Mir and the Honda RC213V.
Dry conditions around the 5.4-kilometer long Automotodrom Brno circuit gave Luca Marini a boost after struggling for grip in the wet on Friday. 0.4s shy of a Q2 transfer spot, Marini lined up in 16th for the Sprint. Although still struggling to find an ideal feeling with the Honda HRC Castrol RC213V, Marini put in another determined ride to collect important data and improve his bike fitness further. A strong launch would help on his way to 15th spot where Marini focused on the positives of completing a full Sprint race distance with the medium rear.
Sunday’s 21-lap Grand Prix of Czechia will be the final chance to prepare for the three-week summer break. Of all the riders on the grid, there are few who head into it with the red-hot determination of Joan Mir after a Saturday of elation and heartbreak.