Repsol Honda Team focus on Le Mans learnings

Luca Marini made it two finishes from two starts at the French GP while teammate Joan Mir crashed showing top-ten pace and focusing on positives.

A record-breaking crowd of close to 300,000 fans witnessed another thrilling edition of the French GP. Dark clouds would loom overhead, but fears of rain would go unanswered over the course of the 27-lap French Grand Prix.

Luca Marini once again focused on improving his style and riding of the Repsol Honda Team over the running of the race. Starting well, he mixed with the other Honda riders before settling into his rhythm and taking the maximum benefit from the laps available. Riding with the other Honda riders has helped Marini to further understand the areas he and the team have room to improve. He finished 16th, just shy of the points.

Looking to put Saturday’s issues behind him, Joan Mir made a spirited start to the race and set about quickly establishing himself as the leading Honda. Able to consistently match the pace of those running inside the top ten with low 1’32s, the #36 marched steadily forward to enter the group battling for the top ten. Unfortunately, a fall on Lap 15 would end his charge. Although the result was disappointing, Mir leaves France pleased with the progress he and the Repsol Honda Team made over the course of the weekend. In particular, he feels that the race pace of himself and the Honda RC213V is getting closer to that of his rivals’.

The Repsol Honda Team will now prepare for the Catalan Grand Prix on the outskirts of Barcelona. The journey will go via Mugello for a private one-day test for both riders.