Joan Mir, the 2020 MotoGP champion, is reportedly set to miss this week’s race in Qatar due to recurring vision issues. Mir had already been absent from four consecutive races because of an illness he only revealed after returning to competition last weekend in Malaysia. Blurred vision, a key symptom of his condition, resurfaced during the Malaysian Grand Prix, forcing him to retire from the event.
According to reports from The Race, Honda WorldSBK rider Jake Dixon is expected to take Mir’s place in Qatar, although the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has not confirmed this move officially.
The Qatar round will see the absence of multiple full-time MotoGP riders. Yamaha withdrew from the race following a company-wide travel ban affecting the Middle East, a region currently experiencing geopolitical tensions after attacks involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Additionally, both Gresini Racing riders—Alex Marquez, recovering from shoulder surgery post-Malaysia, and Fermin Aldeguer, sidelined with a fractured hand from the Indonesian race—will also miss the event.
Gresini will field only one Desmosedici in Lusail, with WorldSBK runner-up Iker Lecuona stepping in as their sole representative. Dixon will be the second replacement rider on the grid. With Yamaha absent, the race lineup will shrink to 18 riders, including Raul Fernandez and Jorge Martin. Despite missing the last two races due to injuries—a broken finger from Mandalika and a broken wrist from Australia—Martin plans to compete in Qatar.
Fan Take: This lineup shake-up in Qatar highlights how unpredictable circumstances can rapidly alter the competitive field in MotoGP, posing fresh challenges and opportunities for emerging riders. For fans, it’s a reminder that the sport’s drama extends beyond the racing itself, often influenced by health and geopolitical factors that add an extra layer of intrigue to the championship battle.
Source: www.crash.net
