Tag Repsol Honda Team

MotoGP 2024 Sprint Race Round 13 Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera de Rimini

Misano, September 09, 2024: A day of gathering data for Luca Marini and the Repsol Honda Team as they worked to overcome changeable track conditions in Misano. Joan Mir withdraws.

Luca Marini was once again the lone representative of the Repsol Honda Team, the Italian working away and gathering much needed data undeterred. Track conditions at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli would vary throughout the day, grip dropping as the temperature at the track climbed ever higher. Qualifying in 21st left the local rider with work to do in the Sprint.

Head down when the lights went out, Marini made an aggressive start to try and break away from Bradl and Nakagami early. The Sprint in Misano would see a number of riders receive track limit warning, the #10 keeping it under control as he crossed the line in 18th.

Joan Mir was hopeful of returning to the track on Saturday after an evening of improvements but with his condition worsening in the morning, and following the advice of the medical team, he withdrew from the remainder of the San Marino GP. His goal is to return for the Monday Test.

Sunday’s full-length San Marino Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 14:00 Local Time and run across 27 laps.

Luca Marini (18^th)

“I think the conditions on track changed a lot today. In the morning the grip was really good, even for us where it’s usually one of our weak points but in the race with the higher temperature the grip was less. The rear dropped more than I was expecting in the Sprint. Overall, it was a tough day and we have to keep on working to see what we can do for tomorrow in the long race.”

 San Marino GP – Sprint Result

Misano, September 05, 2024: It’s non-stop action for Joan Mir and Luca Marini as they prepare to remount their Repsol Honda Team RC213Vs on the Italian coast for the San Marino GP.

Straight back on the road as the MotoGP World Championship travels for Aragon in Spain to Misano for Round 13 – the Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini. A track familiar to all of the grid, its 4.23 kilometres and 16 corners hosted the Repsol Honda Team’s most recent 1-2 finish in 2021.

The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is one of the most consistent on the calendar for Joan Mir, taking a pair of second place finishes there in 2020 on his way to the MotoGP crown. After returning to the points in Aragon, the #36 is hungry for more in Misano and to confirm some of the learnings he and the team uncovered last time out.

Home hero Luca Marini is eager to get out on track in front of the home crowd as he aims to shake off a run of bad luck. The Italian has made clear progress throughout the year and has continued to put solid weekends together race after race. Everything is in place for Marini to enjoy another weekend of progress at home.

Stefan Bradl will join the grid for his fifth wildcard appearance of the year.

Following the weekend, the Premier Class will remain on the Adriatic Coast for the last in-season test of the year. An important appointment for all of the Repsol Honda Team.

Joan Mir

“We are going to get to know Misano very well over the next few weeks! It’s a good circuit to ride and you can learn a good amount there, we know a little bit of what to expect after our one day of running a few weeks ago. From Aragon we got some very good information about the bike and our situation, so all these days in Misano will give us an opportunity to assess that deeper. As always, we head into the weekend looking to make the most of very lap.”

Luca Marini

“Misano is always an enjoyable weekend with the home fans supporting me so I am looking forward to it a lot, it’s a pleasure to ride in front of everyone there. The last weekends have been positive until Sunday, so we have to make sure that everything is correct to take the most of any opportunity that comes up. Our test there from after Austria will allow us to double check some things but we know what our targets are for the weekend. Let’s put together a good weekend so that we have a lot of data for Monday’s test.”

Assen, July 1, 2024: A day of progress for Joan Mir as he captured 14th in the Sprint, pleased with data gathered as attentions turn to Sunday. Luca Marini was victim to an unforunate early end.

With an intense evening of work behind them, the Repsol Honda Team approached Saturday with their usual determination, aiming to extract all the day had to offer. Joan Mir recovered well from a tough Friday to improve his one-lap pace into the 1’32s for Q1 and end two tenths behind leading Honda Zarco. Following this up with a strong start when the lights went out in the race, Mir would set a steady and consistent pace in the Sprint to end in 14th. Avoiding any mistake, the #36 finished well and gathered important information for the future while demonstrating his pace.

Luca Marini qualified just 0.130s behind his teammate and was eager to put together a strong Sprint to gather data to improve further on Sunday. Unfortunately, he was forced to retire early with an issue during the opening stages of the race. The Repsol Honda Team will take the time to fully diagnose what occured but are already confident it will not be a factor during the Grand Prix.

The 26-lap Dutch GP is scheduled to commence at 14:00 Local Time before the quick turn around for the MotoGP paddock to the German GP next week.

Joan Mir (14^th)

“We had a solid race today; our pace was quite consistent, and I felt like I put in a lot of effort. We know the areas we have to improve and at the moment it’s about giving the best of myself each time we’re on the bike. Right now it’s very important to finish races, get information and work for things to come in the future. Another chance to go again tomorrow in the full race and see we can do over the longer distance, the conditions could change a lot.”

Luca Marini (DNF)

“At the start I already felt something strange with the bike and after a lap I had to come back to the pit. I wanted to understand the hard front, so I tried to continue but it was clear we weren’t able to. The team will investigate what happened deeply, but we already know it won’t be a problem tomorrow – this is always positive. We can learn a lot from the Sprint so we just two laps we missed out on some data, especially in regard to the tyres. Let’s see what we can do tomorrow.”

Dutch TT – Sprint Result