Honda HRC Castrol hunt home GP repeat in Lombok
Spurred on by a well-earned podium return, motivations are refreshed and higher than ever for Honda HRC Castrol. Joan Mir and Luca Marini set clear goals for the Indonesian GP. They are hungry to taste success again.
A home away from home, Lombok, Indonesia is always amongst the most enjoyable races of the year for Honda HRC. The millions of Indonesian Honda fans welcome the MotoGP World Championship with open arms.
Now in its fourth year on the calendar, the Indonesian GP is one of the most popular races amongst fans, teams and riders.
It is loved for its stunning seaside location. A fast circuit with room for ambitious moves, Honda HRC are still chasing their first successes at the track.
1,421 days after his last podium, Joan Mir made an incredible return to the rostrum. He broke the Honda HRC factory team’s two-year podium drought. All this happened in front of Honda’s home crowd. Motivation could not be any higher as the #36 and team arrive in Indonesia. They are hungry for more in front of the passionate local fans.
Despite suffering two DNFs in his last two appearances in Lombok, Mir has shown strong pace at the circuit. He was challenging for the top ten in 2023. What is certain is that the 2025 Honda RC213V is a competitive machine. Mir has clearly demonstrated the speed and mentality which has brought him two World Championships to date.
Like his Honda HRC Castrol teammate, Luca Marini was competitive all weekend in Japan.
He was robbed at the final crucial moment with a DNF through no fault of his own. His speed is there, and no doubt a first podium as a Honda HRC Castrol rider is just around the corner. Now Marini arrives at a happy hunting ground, ready to make amends.
He aims to take a well-earned reward for his tireless efforts in helping to develop the Honda RC213V. On pole and on the Sprint podium in 2023, Marini has consistently shown strong performances in Indonesia. This is true in all classes and on a variety of machines.
Joan Mir
“Clearly, we arrive in a good moment, and I am really looking forward to getting back to work with the team. Japan showed us what we can do when we put all the pieces in place, and it proved what our hard work has done. The objective this weekend is clear: to repeat our performance in Japan and continue to challenge at the front. Of course, Mandalika is a different kind of track to Motegi, but we need to be competitive everywhere we go. The atmosphere in Indonesia is always unbelievable, the passion for Honda and MotoGP is something really unique and it makes you proud to wear these colours.”
Luca Marini
“Mandalika is a circuit I enjoy, I feel comfortable riding there and have had some good moments in the past – my first MotoGP pole for example. What Joan achieved in Japan is a big boost also for me and the best way to comeback from our Sunday is to go straight back out on track, so I am pleased to be racing again this weekend. Now we need to confirm everything from Japan, attack straight away from Friday and be up there with the front runners. I have a feeling it will be an interesting weekend, hot and very intense.”