The Argentine Grand Prix disqualification of Ai Ogura had several minor but curious consequences, one of them being that Honda suddenly finds itself in second place in the manufacturers' standings.
That it was Ogura only adds to the picture. This is a rider whose rejection of Honda's MotoGP project - despite years of being part of the manufacturer's family of athletes - was nicely emblematic of how far the mighty had fallen in the premier class.
It feels like Honda has been at the back of those manufacturers' standings for a decade now. That's not true, of course, and even as recently as 2023 it was up in that second place briefly after Alex Rins' Circuit of the Americas win.
But the vibes are better now than they were then, and the Hondas' combative performances at Termas de Rio Hondo this past weekend feel more meaningful as a reflection of the project than Rins' moment of magic two years ago.
The Honda sang in Johann Zarco's hands all throughout the Argentina weekend, but the other riders also contributed to the positive impression. Joan Mir, eye-catchingly quick in the Thai Grand Prix opener, was less potent but still convincing here. Luca Marini started the weekend rough but found his setting and his groove just in time for the most important session.
Excluding the Ducati, which still runs in a league of its own when it comes to the second half of a grand prix, a Honda was the bike to have in those final stages at Termas.
Argentine GP, final 13 laps (non-Ducati edition)
- Johann Zarco (LCR Honda), 21m28.229s
- Luca Marini (Honda), +2.150s
- Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia), +4.320s
- Joan Mir (Honda), +4.562s
- Brad Binder (KTM), +4.670s
Chances are good that Marco Bezzecchi, had he stayed in the race, would've had the best late-race pace of the non-Ducati group, so it's premature to suggest Honda is really the second-best bike on the grid.
But the fact that Honda is at all in the conversation, and that it was the subject of relatively envious comments from Yamaha and even KTM riders for much of the weekend, is a boon.
"We need to find a way to make a better qualifying, because Yamaha is stronger than us in qualifying, to make only one lap," said Marini.
"But if we're able to start more in front - me, Joan and Johann - for sure we're able to be, in this condition, in this race, the third[-best] manufacturer.
"Maybe behind Bez [Bezzecchi] because I think with the Aprilia Bez here could've done a good race. But behind him we could be Zarco, me and Joan for sure, I don't know the [exact] order - but for sure this was a very good weekend for us."
“I need to be happy because we are better than we could expect," said Zarco, trying to suppress the slight disappointment of missing out on a podium bid he felt was possible.
The bike is not exactly an all-rounder. A lack of straightline performance means the RC213V isn't the bike to have in a fight - which led to a "super dispiriting, one of the most dispiriting in all my career probably" race for Mir.
And the rear vibration that was the bane of his existence in particular late last year remains a problem, although this weekend Zarco and Marini were more vocal about it, the latter lamenting laptime lost "for free".
The savvy Marini had also foreshadowed two weeks prior that Termas would treat Honda well, for an interesting reason. "I think that in tracks with less information [real-life data] usually Honda is good. Because on the electronics side we are super strong. It's easy for us to arrive there and go super fast on Friday because the bike is set very well from home, let's say, from Thursday."
Still, if that flattered the RC213V, it can't have flattered it too much.
Ducati's still so far ahead that MotoGP is largely about table scraps right now for the other four manufacturers. But at least you can now name Honda in that fight for best of the rest without rolling your eyes.
