Honda's progression was swiftly noticed at the 2025 season-opening Thailand MotoGP.

The worst bike on last year’s grid✨ was immediately competitive from Friday in Buriram.

Jo𒆙hann Zarco caught the eye by finishing seventh in the grand prix, with Luca Marin♑i 12th.

Somkiat Chantra was 18th on his premier class debut, while Joan Mir did not finish.

But Mir qualified in 12tꦇh, and finisheꦰd ninth in the sprint, before surprisingly declaring Honda could fight for second spot behind only Ducati.

“The Honda has m🍨ade massive steps,” Sylvain Guintoli told TNT Sports in B🥃uriram.

“Mir said after Sepang, even more after the Buriram test, the front🍨 end feeling was bett🐼er.

“He could br𒆙ake deeper, he had more feedba𒊎ck from the tyre.

“Last year he just♚ crashed every week, he had no idea what was going on, he was off-pace too.

“But they have found something,⛄ he has the feeling back.

“Mir’s riding style is to brak♒e hard. He brakes late. He is efficient to stop the bike. But he couldn’t do that until now. “Honda look much better across all their riders, especially 𓆉Joan.”

Neil Hodgson sai✨d: “It’s nice to have positive news for Honda. It has been a disaster for three years.”

He added: “The Japanese manufacturers have embra𝐆ced, and poached, European knowledge and European engineers. They have embraced the space race.”

Honda and Yamaha warned about focus on the future

Romano Albesiano has swapped Ap🌠rilia for Honda, to become their new technical director.

Honda have also recruited Aleix Espargaro, after his retirement from racing, as a test rider. He is paired with Takaaki Nakagami, who was dropped 🔯from his race seat t🔴o join the test team.

Similarly, Yamaha have brought in Max Bartolin𓄧i as a tec🐼hnical director who is tipped to improve their project.

Yamaha also acquired the Pramac team, doubling their presence on🐻 the grid and their access to data.

While Yamaha are considering a majo🌌r change of engine, Honda are 🐬considering the upcoming MotoGP regulations change.

But both have been warned to focus on today, too.

“It takes a lot of resources to concurrently develop two ♓different machines,” Michael Laverty said.

“Yamaha are looking at the V4 versus the inline-four🍃,♌ Honda are looking at the 850cc for 2027.

“They know that they must꧟ work in the ‘now’. There is  knowledge to gain in the next few seasons trying to close the gap to Ducati. The knowledge will prevail.

“It’s important to take advant♒age of the concessions and bring usable information t❀o the track.

“And, race with it! Previously Honda were too afraid to put someꦰthing out on a race w🔜eekend in case it failed.

“They are prepared to accept the risk of embarrassment which they didn’t like in 𝕴the past, if something failed on the race track it was a no-no for their company𝕴 ethos.

“Now they throw more things at i🍷t to play catch-up, and toไ do as the Europeans do.”