The 15th round of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship took place in Barcelona, with Luca Marini having a strong start, moving from 10th to 5th place at the first corner. He then battled with Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco, eventually taking 8th place at the finish line. This result allowed Marini to close the gap to the top ten in the World Championship standings, now sitting in 13th place with 82 points.
Joan Mir, starting from 20th place due to a penalty, showed impressive speed throughout the race, consistently matching the times of Zarco and Marini. He made steady progress through the field, eventually battling with Jorge Martin for 11th place, and finished 12th. Mir’s performance demonstrated the progress being made by the Honda HRC Castrol team.
Both Marini and Mir expressed satisfaction with their weekend, citing the progress made by the team as a manufacturer. Marini noted that the weekend was a good overall performance, despite the challenges posed by the track. Mir emphasized that his pace during the race was strong, allowing him to have an “offensive” race, and that the team’s testing of new settings and parts will benefit them in the long run.
Aleix Espargaro, riding for the Honda HRC Test Team, had a tough race, finding it physically demanding. However, he was pleased with the progress made by the other Honda riders, noting that it’s a new kind of satisfaction as a test rider to see the team’s efforts paying off. The Honda HRC Castrol team will remain in Barcelona for a one-day test before heading to the Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera, Marini’s home race.
Overall, the weekend was a positive one for the Honda HRC Castrol team, with both Marini and Mir showing strong performances and the team making progress as a manufacturer. The upcoming test and Marini’s home race will provide opportunities for further development and improvement.