Factory Honda MotoGP rider Joan Mir says he has to “avoid incidents” to capitalise on the RC213V’s ability to start weekends strong at the Japanese Grand Prix. The 2020 world champion suffered another incident-hit weekend last time out at the San Marino Grand Prix, with a crash in Practice ruling him out of sprint action. But Honda maintained its upward trend at Misano, with Luca Marini seventh in the grand prix having finished eighth the week before in Barcelona and fifth at Balaton Park. And Joan Mir believes the strengths of the updated Honda will allow the marque to be competitive on home soil this weekend at Motegi. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT“It’s always a really busy weekend in Motegi on and off the track, you really feel like a Honda HRC factory rider here,” he said.