Factory Honda rider Luca Marini expects to secure a front-row starting position at the Indonesian Grand Prix after a strong performance on Friday at Mandalika. The positive momentum shown by Honda reflects significant progress from the Japanese manufacturer, boosting hopes of a breakthrough qualifying result.
Consistent Speed Highlights Honda’s Rising Form
Marini led the first practice session and maintained his presence near the top of the timing charts throughout the second practice, ultimately finishing fourth. His teammate Joan Mir was also impressive, placing sixth fastest, allowing both factory Hondas to advance directly to Qualifying 2 for the third consecutive race since the MotoGP summer break. This continued improvement signals a meaningful resurgence for Honda’s MotoGP team.
The encouraging performance in Indonesia followed Mir’s podium finish at Motegi, where he qualified second. Both riders demonstrated consistent speed during the day, suggesting further enhancement in the bike’s potential. Marini expressed confidence in their ongoing development.
We keep improving our feeling, the bike is giving us very good sensations and every GP we can do something more as riders,
Marini explained.
We can understand the bike better and we can [push the limit of the bike] a bit more forward compared to the races before.
We can be super satisfied about this Friday. I know it’s only Friday and there is still a lot of work to do. But for tomorrow the target will be to try and start on the first row – or even the second row is good. I think we can improve the bike a little bit, find more potential with the new software and find some tenths.
Joan Mir, Honda HRC
Marini Focused on Strong Race Pace Despite Qualifying Challenges
While Marco Bezzecchi on an Aprilia dominated the one-lap speed today, Marini is optimistic about his race prospects and believes the front row would provide a strong foundation. He acknowledged the difficulties of pushing hard during qualifying laps, where he risks crashes if he rides aggressively.
On race pace I’m feeling really comfortable; riding the bike very well. But on the time attack I need to force too much and every time I’m risking crashing at every corner.
Mir Finds Encouragement at a Difficult Track
Joan Mir, who typically struggles at the beachside Mandalika circuit, was pleased with the team’s pace despite his personal reservations about the track. His strong showing offered reassurance for the remainder of the season.
It’s not my favourite track, it’s not a track that I enjoy riding, and we are fast,
Mir said.
It means a lot to be strong at this track. It means that we can be strong at tracks where I perform in a better way. So, this day gave me a bit of [assurance] for the rest of the season.
Honda’s Progress Continues Amidst Technical Developments
Mir confirmed that the day’s results reflected a genuine improvement for Honda, made despite the challenging nature of the circuit, which caused some variability in positions. He noted that the team is still uncovering the full potential of the bike through newly introduced upgrades.
We are making progress, Mir commented, adding,
I think that we didn’t stop that progress [yet]. And I think that we have more margin, probably, than the others. Because we are discovering this bike a little bit more, the new upgrades that we get, and I think we have some margin to improve.
Looking Ahead: Honda’s Prospects at Mandalika
Luca Marini Honda progress at the Indonesian Grand Prix underscores a significant upswing for the factory Honda team, highlighting the riders’ growing confidence and the effectiveness of recent technical upgrades. As qualifying continues, securing a front-row start would mark another important milestone in Honda’s ongoing campaign to return to competitiveness. With promising race pace and continued development, Honda’s performance in Lombok offers a hopeful outlook for the remaining races this season.
