As MotoGP gets ready for the 2025 season, Honda faces a challenge: they need to find another half a second in performance to compete with the frontrunners. Factory rider Luca Marini believes this leap is critical for Honda, whose 2024 campaign was marred by struggles with the RC213V, leaving them at the bottom of the standings.

Despite a challenging season, Honda showed a glimpse of hope after the Misano test in September. This progress helped Johann Zarco secure Honda’s first top-10 finish of the year.

Progress, But Not Enough

Reflecting on the improvement, Marini stated, “If we compare the bike’s performance from [the Catalan GP in] May to the Barcelona GP, we’ve made a good step forward. But it’s still not enough. The bike is working better, the riders have improved, and we’re on a positive trajectory.”

Marini emphasized that Honda must keep pushing: “We need to gain another half a second between now and Sepang.”

The Italian rider, who joined HRC at the start of 2024, remains optimistic about Honda’s potential. He believes the team could become the second-best manufacturer in MotoGP, even chasing Ducati.

“Satisfaction comes from progress,” he noted. “We started with a 1.8-second-per-lap deficit in some races. Now, we’re at around one second. It’s a long road, but the goal is to surpass all manufacturers aside from Ducati. Then, we’ll focus on taking the fight to them.”

Testing

MotoGP’s new concession system gave struggling teams like Honda and Yamaha additional testing and development flexibility. Yet, opinions on its impact remain mixed, as Joan Mir believes the benefits will only become apparent in 2025.

Marini acknowledged Yamaha’s head start but highlighted Honda’s determination. “We were always a step behind because Yamaha began from a stronger baseline,” he explained. “We made more improvements than them over the season, but they started in a better position, especially with Quartararo’s deep knowledge of the bike. His riding style is near-perfect for Yamaha, which allows him to maximize its potential.”

The Road Ahead

As Honda eyes the Sepang test, the team’s focus is clear: close the gap to Yamaha and aim to outpace the field. Whether they can achieve that improvement remains to be seen, but for Marini and his teammates, the mission is unmistakable.