Former MotoGP champion Joan Mir consistently finished in the top six on 30 occasions while riding for Suzuki between 2019 and 2022. Despite this strong record, he wasn’t satisfied with his seventh-place finish in Aragon on Sunday. However, following his eighth DNF of the season—caused by Jack Miller during the Saturday sprint—Mir revealed that achieving his best result on a Honda, finishing fifth in 2023, brought him significant relief.
Mir said, “In the end, I managed to complete the race with a decent result. I’ve never been content with finishing seventh in my career, but now I am happy.” He acknowledged the challenging circumstances they face and expressed pride in their ability to compete under these conditions. “We lack the tools to do more, but I sleep peacefully knowing I gave my maximum effort,” he added.
He emphasized the need to keep pushing forward, acknowledging the gains they’ve made but recognizing they still fall short. “We are making progress, but it isn’t enough yet,” he commented. Mir pointed out areas for improvement, such as acceleration, top speed, and grip, while noting their strengths in braking, corner speed, and handling. “These strengths allow me to fight effectively, which is encouraging,” he said, “but to move beyond seventh place consistently, we must improve power and grip.”
Mir also spoke about the difficulty of moving up the ranks unless there are unusual race conditions. The Aragon top speed rankings highlighted their struggles, with Mir’s speed only surpassing that of Hondalukee’s Somkiat Chantra and Pridelia’s Lorenzo Sabadri.
“It’s very nerve-wracking trying to overtake,” Mir admitted. “The relief after a lap without getting passed is huge. Usually, our race pace is competitive—close to the top five—which is acceptable. But racing conditions are tougher, with many bikes around, making it hard to find a clear path.”
He compared the situation to Yamaha’s past strategy, where starting from the front with clear track made things easier. “We don’t start from pole nor are we the fastest on track, so it complicates things,” he explained.
In the same race, Honda rider Chanta finished 16th. Mir’s teammate Luca Marini was absent due to injury, and LCR’s Johann Zarco crashed out.
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Fan Take: Joan Mir’s perseverance despite Honda’s current limitations demonstrates the fierce competitiveness and unpredictability in MotoGP, keeping fans engaged. His candid insights into the bike’s weaknesses and strengths highlight the ongoing technical battle that shapes the exciting evolution of the sport.
