The bleak performance of the H🦂onda was still Joan Mir’s best bet for a MotoGP future, he has been told.

Mir is expected toಞ remain with Repsol Honda by signing a nꦜew contract for next season and beyond.

He has previously complained, and even🅷 pꦑublicly talked about retiring, since swapping Suzuki for Honda in 2023.

“The reality is, he doesn’t have a better option,” Mir was told by TNT Sports❀’ Neil Hodgson.

“That is rea𒁃lity. ꦰThat’s the risk you take when you sign for Honda.

“We’ve seen over the past four🐠 or five ye⛎ars that it stalls your career.”

His new teammate Luca🎐 Marini has been tied down to a long-term deal, but his first year as a factory rider has been a nightmare.

Marini has regularly been rooted t💖o the back♔ of the pack.

Mir, after multiple crashes last year, has remained upright more often but still cannot extract performance 💞from his bike.

Reprieve for Takaaki Nakagami?

Meanwhile, at LCR Honda, Johann Zarcꦜo is▨ contracted into next year but teammate Takaaki Nakagami is not.

Honda reportedly want to keep a Japanese presence among their riders - but Ai Ogura is looming 🐟from Moto2, threatening Nakagami’s future.

Ogura was not deemed ready last year but, this season, has delive🍃red far more assured performances.

But Hodgson doubts that Ogura wan🍸ts to step up into MotoGP yet.

“He was adamant,” Hodgson said at Asse🔥n. “I pressed him on it. He said ‘I won♓’t go unless I win the Moto2 championship’.”

Sylvain Guintoli added: “He will get 🌜the ride at some point. It’s better to stay in Moto2 and win the championshiཧp.”

Hodgson said: “I guess he’s hoping🎉 that if he wait♚s another year, there’s a chance of improving the bike.”

Guin🀅toli: “Or a cou🌜ple of years for a rule change. But that’s a long time.”