Joan Mir and Luca Marini in Bali: Immersing in Culture, Captivated by Ogoh-ogoh
Denpasar, Kompas.com – The excitement around Joan Mir and Luca Marini, the Honda HRC Castrol riders, continued on the second day of their Bali visit on Tuesday, 3 March 2026. On this occasion, the pair stepped directly into the local culture and strengthened ties with the Honda riding community.
Ahead of Nyepi, Balinese communities are preparing the giant Ogoh-ogoh statues to be displayed during the celebrations.
The moment was captured as Joan and Luca, accompanied by Astra Honda Racing Team (AHRT) riders, visited Banjar Kaja Sesetan. Not only did they observe, but they also helped the artists refine the Ogoh-ogoh statues in progress.
The moment of togetherness continued with a visit to the Astra Motor Denpasar dealership to engage with 100 Honda Community Bali riders, from the Honda Stylo Club Indonesia, CBR Riders Club, to the Big Bike community.
Interestingly, in a media interview, the world-class riders spoke frankly about their favourite models in the Astra Honda Motor (AHM) lineup.
Moreover, when asked what bike they would want if Honda offered it to them for free, Marini gave a teasing answer: ‘I would obviously choose something with history, like the Honda RC30. Because the question is, if Honda wants to give me something for free, I’d want something that is expensive at the same time,’ Luca said with a beaming smile.
Mir did not miss his chance to give his view when asked the same question. The Spanish rider named his favourite at the Indonesian dealer as the Vario 160. However, when it came to a free gift, his choice fell on a road-legal replica of a MotoGP bike. ‘My favourite bike at the dealer is the Vario 160, and if Honda wants to give me a bike, I’d choose the RC213V-S,’ Mir said.
Octavianus Dwi, Marketing Director of PT Astra Honda Motor (AHM), said that the appearance of Honda HRC Castrol riders in Bali aligns with a strong sense of togetherness, both in preserving cultural sustainability and strengthening brotherhood among bikers. ‘The presence of Honda HRC Castrol riders who interact directly with Honda bikers is like the harmony, unity, and togetherness in the Kecak dance. We hope this becomes a strong connection to support every dream realization,’ he said.
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