Former MotoGP champion Joan Mir made a notable comeback to the premier class podium with Honda this season, nearly four years after his last podium finish with Suzuki. Despite only managing two top-10 finishes in his first two seasons with Honda leading up to 2025, Mir must have faced moments of doubt about achieving such success again.
The season started with Mir winning just one of the first six Grands Prix, hampered by a mix of misfortune, crashes, and errors. “In the first half of the season, the best I could do on this bike was a top-seven finish,” Mir shared with Crash.net. “If anyone did better, it was due to special conditions or unusual circumstances. The real chance was to consistently finish within the top seven.” Mir noted that scoring higher than seventh was tough unless other riders dropped out.
Though Mir secured a sixth place in Austria amidst more DNFs, the real turning point came after Honda introduced aerodynamic and engine upgrades for the RCV bike at Barcelona. “Post-Barcelona, we improved the aerodynamics and engine response significantly, which was bothering me a lot before, and finally, things clicked for me,” he explained. Two races later in Japan, everything came together perfectly.
Mir became the first rider for the HRC Team to reach the MotoGP podium since Marc Marquez’s podium at Motegi in 2023, complementing an early-season win and podium by LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco. Mir then replicated his podium performance at Sepang, which he considers his best race of the year due to the bike’s potential on a historically difficult track. “Sepang is usually tough for this bike because of low grip, so we had to brake hard and take more risks than others,” Mir said, reflecting on his recovery from a sprint crash and careful riding afterward.
The Spaniard impressed fans with his aggressive late braking at the Malaysian Grand Prix—a riding style he suppressed during his Suzuki days. “At Suzuki, I had to adapt to riding smoothly with earlier braking, but now on Honda, I’m back to my original style, like when I raced in Moto3 and Moto2,” he said. “I enjoy braking hard and keeping the bike stable, although it’s risky and requires great confidence.”
Despite these podiums, Mir finished 15th in the World Championship, behind teammate Johann Zarco and factory teammate Luca Marini, due to many non-finishes in 21 out of 44 races. Nevertheless, Honda’s improvement—from a D to C rating in the concession system—has boosted confidence for 2026. “It was a big year,” Mir reflected. “We managed to turn things around after some tough moments, despite lots of bad luck and inconsistency. The season was positive in terms of rider potential and Honda’s growth. Now, I want to find more consistency and tap into more of my potential because constantly riding on the limit isn’t sustainable. Hopefully, we start strong next year and continue progressing.”
Fan Take: Joan Mir’s return to form with Honda is a hopeful sign for racing enthusiasts, signaling that perseverance and technical upgrades can revive a rider’s career. This resurgence not only boosts Honda’s competitiveness but also adds excitement and unpredictability to the sport’s future.
