HONDA MAY BE LEFT WITHOUT A FACTORY RIDER AT PHILLIP ISLAND

Honda’s injury and illness problems deepened at Phillip Island, where the factory team risked being left without a rider for the Australian Grand Prix. Joan Mir has been unavailable since the San Marino round because of an illness whose diagnosis has not been made public. Takaaki Nakagami, Somkiat Chantra and Aleix Espargaro have taken turns replacing him, but Nakagami fractured his collarbone at Motegi and Espargaro crashed in Mandalika and was again suffering pain afterwards.

Honda decided not to field a replacement for Mir in Australia, partly because the Spaniard could potentially return at Sepang the following week. But Luca Marini, the team’s remaining regular rider, also arrived at Phillip Island unwell. He briefly tried Friday’s first practice session, then stopped after two laps.

Team manager Alberto Puig said Marini was already in poor condition when he reached the circuit. “We agreed that he would try FP1. But after two laps he came back completely exhausted, especially in his arms,” Puig explained. A medical examination by Dr Charte confirmed a viral infection, and Honda opted to withdraw Marini from the session. “We have decided to skip the timed practice. We cannot say yet whether Luca will return to action at Phillip Island,” Puig added.

There was more encouraging news about Mir’s recovery. Puig said the rider had been working intensively with medical staff and had received the green light that day. “I can’t promise anything or give guarantees, but if everything goes normally, Joan should be back in Sepang.” Mir has signed with Gresini for 2027.

Honda’s Friday running was limited to rookie Diogo Moreira and Johann Zarco. Moreira, who is due to move up to Honda’s factory team next year, impressed by taking ninth in the timed session and earning direct entry to Q2. Zarco finished 11th, missing the cut by just 0.026 seconds. With Mir absent and Marini sidelined, no other Honda riders took to the track.