Honda HRC Castrol Aim Strong Finish with Three Races to Go in 2025

Honda HRC Castrol return to Sepang for the 2025 Malaysian Grand Prix. Luca Marini and Joan Mir aim to end the MotoGP season on a high after a year of steady progress with the RC213V.

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The 2025 MotoGP season is reaching its final chapter, and Honda HRC Castrol are heading back to where it all began, the Sepang International Circuit. Luca Marini and Joan Mir are ready to fight for another strong result and show how far the Honda RC213V has come this season.

The story comes full circle for Honda HRC Castrol. On February 5, 2025, the team began their first test of the year at Sepang. Now, 258 days later, the same circuit will host the Malaysian Grand Prix. It has been a season of hard work and improvement, with the team collecting almost six times the points earned in 2024. The progress of the RC213V marks a huge step forward for Honda and a reward for months of dedication from riders and engineers alike.

Luca Marini has been a model of consistency throughout 2025. Apart from one DNF due to a technical issue, the Italian has stayed competitive and helped drive the RC213V’s development. He now sits 13th in the championship, just eight points behind fellow Honda rider Johann Zarco. Marini’s recent top-five challenges show that he is capable of even more. His focus now is on closing the gap to the front and finishing the season on a high. With Malaysia’s unpredictable mix of heat, rain, and humidity, consistency will once again play a vital role.

Joan Mir has also delivered several impressive performances this year. The Spaniard has shown raw speed and determination, often charging through the field to fight for the podium. When starting closer to the front, Mir has proven he can battle among the leaders, and that’s exactly his goal in Sepang. He also hopes to end his run of DNFs at the Malaysian circuit. With confidence growing in the improved RC213V, Mir is focused on strong qualifying and solid race pace from Friday onwards.

Hot weather and possible thunderstorms are expected throughout the weekend, with temperatures reaching the 30s. The 20-lap Grand Prix of Malaysia will take place on Sunday, October 26 at 15:00 local time. As the 2025 season is nearing it’s end, Honda HRC Castrol are determined to keep the momentum going in the final three races. Their sights are set on finishing strong and building even more confidence for the 2026 campaign.

Luca Marini

“Ready for another race in what I’m sure will be an interesting weekend. Sepang is a very particular track and having tested there, you always get a chance to compare what you’ve worked on through the year. It’s a circuit with a big variety of braking, corners and straights and I think this will suit us a little more than in Phillip Island. Three races to achieve our targets and we will keep working until the very end, we are close.”

Joan Mir

“This weekend we need to start well and be inside the top ten from Friday, like this we can have some more margin during the rest of the weekend. It’s clear that the bike has a lot of potential and I know that we can be there fighting with Luca and the other riders at the front. We’ve seen the last couple of races that these overseas ones are quite unpredictable, but I think our package has improved a lot to be quite consistent.”