Joan Mir still remembers, a year ago, the Qatar test which set the tone for a disastrous MotoGP season.

The 2020 MotoGP champion eﷺndured a year to forget with Repsol Honda but the tide may finally be turning, albeit s𝓀lowly.

Mir admits he stil🐠l harboured ill feeling towards the Qatar test after last year’s experience but ended the first day pl🔯eased with his bike’s progress.

“Well, honest🐭ly, Iඣ felt quite good,” Mir said. “I am happy about the day.

“We wer🅠e able to be, straight away, quite fast. “Especiall💯y in race pace with the used tyres.

“I was comfortable. I came with low expectations.

ꦯ“Last year it was ver🅷y, very difficult to stay on the bike.

“I was surprised. We 🦹have taken the correct steps forwa🐽rd.

“We are in a long process but we are doi📖ng the correct steps to arrive on top.🍎”

Luca Marini, Mir’s new Repsol Honda teammate who has replaced Marc Marq🥀uez, was also complimentary about their ‘24 bike b🔜ut he warned that other manufacturers were taking similarly large steps forward.

Mir, on Monday at the Qata🙈r test, w๊as 13th-fastest.

He detailed Honda’s dܫevelopment through preseason:🌳 “The potential here, or in Sepang, was similar. It’s the same bike.

“It’s true that, every time, I 🐽know this bike more. I’m closer to the limit.

“I am especially happy because we improved 🉐the aerodyn🌜amics a little bit.

“When you improve one thi✱ng a little bit in MotoGP, you have to be happy.

“Then, the day was about putting the electronics on point for🅰 the new aero.

“It will be important to work on the details. It’s a new bike. It’s part of the new p🍬rocess.”

MotoGP 👍riders will tesꦫt again in Qatar on Tuesday before the first round of the 2024 season, in the same location, on March 8.