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Honda and Yamaha’s Performance at the Thai Grand Prix: A Competitive Analysis
The Thai Grand Prix showcased a fierce competition among Japanese manufacturers, with Honda emerging ahead as Johann Zarco secured seventh place on the best-performing RC213V, notably four positions in front of Jack Miller, the highest Yamaha finisher. However, this result does not conclusively position Honda ahead of Yamaha as both teams prepare for the upcoming 2025 season, leaving uncertainty about the overall hierarchy within MotoGP.
For Honda, the opening round of the 2025 season represented a significant achievement. Both riders, Joan Mir and Johann Zarco, successfully advanced to Q2, with Mir clocking a remarkable time of 1m29.422s—this result was nearly four tenths faster than any Honda rider’s performance at the same track during the previous year’s Thai GP held just four months prior. The gap to pole position shrank to 0.640s, a considerable improvement compared to the 1.1s deficit in 2024.
During the sprint race, Mir managed to secure a point with a ninth-place finish, while Zarco crossed the line in tenth. However, Honda’s strengths were truly on display during the main race. Mir advanced from an 11th-place starting position to run in a solid seventh place before a crash sidelined him shortly after the halfway mark. Following Mir’s exit, Zarco capitalized on the momentum, finishing seventh and earning nine points. His performance, including a close finish just three-tenths behind Marco Bezzecchi’s factory Aprilia, underscored Honda’s progress during the off-season.
Zarco also finished the race a mere 15 seconds behind race winner Marc Marquez, a commendable result given that in previous seasons Honda riders often found themselves over 20 seconds behind leaders, with some results reflecting gaps exceeding 40 seconds.
Luca Marini’s Quiet Strength
A noteworthy, albeit understated, performance came from Italian rider Luca Marini. After struggling with the launch control at the start, he found himself at the back of the pack but managed a commendable recovery to finish 12th on the factory Honda. Marini expressed confidence in Honda’s advancements, estimating they have gained four tenths over the winter. “I think if we compare our pace, [it is] four tenths [faster] compared to last year,” he noted, highlighting the incremental yet valuable improvements made.
Reflecting on his performance and the bike’s capabilities, Marini remarked, “The tyres are amazing because we are doing the lap times incredibly well and consistently during races, but surely we can get closer to them during the year. I hope sooner rather than later.”
Mir’s Assessment of Honda’s Potential
Mir, despite his crash, was optimistic about Honda’s trajectory. “I think we would have been able to be very close to the top five with the pace we were showing,” he stated. This sentiment underscores the noticeable improvements the team has made compared to previous seasons. However, a critical concern remains: Honda’s engine power still lags behind its competitors. Zarco alluded to this challenge, suggesting that while improvements are visible, enduring issues, particularly in high-temperature conditions, could limit performance until adjustments are made.
Yamaha’s Mixed Results
Yamaha’s performance at the Thai GP was marked by contrasting fortunes. Jack Miller’s impressive fourth-place qualifying result demonstrated the M1’s potential, only 0.308s shy of pole position. However, Fabio Quartararo, starting from 10th, also faced challenges. In the sprint race, Quartararo secured seventh, allowing Yamaha to take early points. Nevertheless, issues plagued the main race, hindering the M1’s full capabilities.
Miller was running sixth until mechanical difficulties hampered his performance. After a clip on his fairing came loose, he had to manage the situation ingeniously to avoid further deterioration in speed. “One of the clips unfortunately popped out, and the whole fairing sort of started deploying,” he explained. Despite the issues, Miller still finished as the top Yamaha rider in 11th place.
Quartaro’s difficulties compounded, leading him to a disappointing 15th-place finish. Starting 11th, he quickly dropped to 19th during the initial laps due to front tyre issues. “I could not push, I could not really lean the bike and the bike was just sliding,” he recounted, suggesting a complicated race weekend that reflects deeper struggles with grip in changing conditions.
Looking Forward: Challenges Ahead
With a mixed bag of performances, it remains challenging to accurately assess Yamaha’s capabilities following the first race of the season. The Buriram circuit was not expected to favor the Iwata-based team, as pre-season tests indicated that the M1 struggles under low-grip conditions. Upcoming races in Argentina and Austin may present further challenges, impacting Yamaha’s ability to leverage any off-season gains until they can adapt to varying track conditions later in the year.
Source
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