Mir and Marini set sights on Saturday gains in Barcelona

With Friday practice completed, the Repsol Honda Team set their focus on making overnight improvements to close the gap to the front.

Work began immediately at the Catalan GP for Joan Mir and Luca Marini as the pair seized the opportunity to make the most of the all-important track time. Ending a second back on the leaders in the morning, the pair targeted further improvements from their mid 1’40 lap times.

Mir would lead the way for the Repsol Honda Team in the afternoon session with a best time of 1’40.256. The #36 had felt strong in the morning and was hoping for further progress in the afternoon. A lack of grip around the track held him back when the moment came to do his final time attack. Repeating the positive advancements of the Spanish GP and French GP remains his target for the remainder of the weekend.

Ending less than a tenth back on his teammate, Marini set a best time of 1’40.318 but felt he had more to give after making a mistake and being caught out by a yellow flag right at the end of the session. Feeling better on the bike, the Italian was pleased with how his opening day of practice went and is ready to make more steps forward tomorrow.

Both Repsol Honda Team riders will head into Q1 tomorrow morning with improvements at the forefront of their minds. With the top 19 premier class riders split by less than a second at the close of Friday, there’s plenty of positions to be made with just a few tenths.