Marini and Mir Begin 2026 MotoGP Campaign with Solid Start at Sepang Test

Honda HRC Castrol riders Luca Marini and Joan Mir made an encouraging start to the 2026 MotoGP season as the opening day of the Sepang Test got underway in Malaysia. Among the first riders on track, the factory duo faced classic Sepang conditions, with high temperatures and heavy humidity adding to the challenge during the first of three crucial testing days.

Between them, Marini and Mir completed a total of 107 laps on the Honda RC213V, gathering valuable data and evaluating new components ahead of the final season of the 1,000cc MotoGP era. The productive opening day underlined Honda’s steady progress as preparations intensify for the upcoming championship.

Luca Marini ended Day 1 sixth overall with a best lap time of 1’57.569, leaving the Italian satisfied with his return to action. Focused on assessing multiple new parts, Marini managed to complete nearly half of his planned test programme, highlighting the importance of marginal gains as teams look to extract the final tenths from their packages in 2026.

“The Japanese have done a great job during the winter,” Marini said. “We’ve already made progress and it’s a really nice feeling to be improving straight away. More or less everything I asked for in Valencia has arrived, and each step has helped us move forward.”

Close behind his teammate, Joan Mir finished the day seventh overall, just 0.124 seconds adrift, with a fastest lap of 1’57.693. The 2020 MotoGP World Champion focused on improving grip and evaluating new components, ending the day with a positive base setup to build on during the remaining sessions.

Mir noted that the team has continued the momentum from the end of the 2025 season. “We are not trying a radically different bike, which helps us feel comfortable straight away. Today we tried several new pieces and found something positive at the end of the day, following the right direction for the start of the year,” he said.

With two more days of testing remaining at Sepang, both Marini and Mir still have demanding schedules ahead. Every lap will be critical as Honda HRC Castrol looks to refine its package and lay strong foundations for an ambitious 2026 MotoGP campaign.