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

The 2020 MotoGP champion endured a year to forget with Reps💖ol Honda but the tide may finallyಌ be turning, albeit slowly.

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

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

“Wꦿe were able to be, straight away, quite fast. “Especially in race pace with the used tyres.

“I was comfortable. I came with low expectations.

“Last year i💙t was very, very difficult to stay on the bike.

“I was surprised. We have taken the correct s🐠teps forward.

“We are in a long process b🤪ut 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 other manufactur🦂ers were taking similarly large steps forward.

Miꦿr, on Monday at the Qatar test, was 13th-faste🔯st.

He detailed Honda’s development through preseason: “The potential here, or in Sepang, was simil🍬ar. It’s the same bike.

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

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

“When you improve one thing a little biꦓt in MotoGP, you hav⛎e to be happy.

“Th🐽en, the day was about putting ꦬthe electronics on point for the new aero.

“It will be importꦗant to work on the details. It’s a new bike.༒ It’s part of the new process.”

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