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

Tꦍhe 2020 MotoGP champion endured a year to forget with Repsol Honda but the tid🙈e may finally be turning, albeit slowly.

Mir admits he still harboured ill feeling towards the Qatar test after last year’s experienc🐟e but ended the first day pleased with his bike’s progress.

“Well, honestly, I felt quite good,”🥂꧑ Mir said. “I am happy about the day.

“We were able to be, straight a𝓀way, quite fast. “Especially in ꦛrace pace with the used tyres.

“I was comfortable. I came with low expectations.

“Last year it was very, very difficult to stay on ওthe bike.

“I wa𝔍s surpris🎃ed. We have taken the correct steps forward.

“We are in a long proc🎀ess but we are doing the correct steps to arrive on top.”

Luca Marini, Mir’s new Repsol Honda teammate who has replaced Marc Marquez, was also complimentary about their ‘24 bike but he warned that o𒅌ther manufacturers were taking si🌟milarly large steps forward.

Mir, on Monday at the Qatar te🌊st, was 13th-fastest.

He detailed Honda’s development t꧂hrough preseasꦿon: “The potential here, or in Sepang, was similar. It’s the same bike.

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

𓃲“I am especially happy because we improved the aerodynamics a little bit.

“When you improve o♛ne thing 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 the𓂃 details. It’s a new bike. It’s part of the new process.”

MotoGP riders will test aga✃in in Qatar on Tuesday before the first round of the 2024 season, in the same location, on March 8.