Honda’s 2026 MotoGP bike appears to offer only similar performance to last year’s model, according to rider Joan Mir, who says the team still hasn’t found a big step forward.
After pre-season testing at Buriram, Mir admitted that while there has been progress, the bike’s grip and overall competitiveness have not improved enough to challenge top rival machines like Ducati or Aprilia.
Mir said Honda has tried small updates, but what’s really needed is a **“revolution” in design—especially in areas like rear tyre grip—rather than just small evolutionary changes.
Because rivals have also made gains over the winter, Mir believes Honda’s package might only be capable of top-eight to top-ten results early in the season, rather than fighting for wins.
He hopes Honda can find more performance during the race week in Thailand, but warns that the team’s current direction still needs significant improvement to be truly competitive.