The valencian circuit is one of good memories for Joan Mir as the rider himself recalled on his preview of the last round of the world championship. The Honda rider will close his first season with the team looking to keep improving the results made on the last GP.

‘A long season comes to an end in Valencia, a day of rest and then the next season will start. In Qatar we were able to make an improvement on Sunday which helped my confidence, so the aim is to keep ongoing in this direction in the final race’, the 26 year old rider said in a team statement, before recalling some of the fond memories the Valencia track has to him:

– The track holds good memories for me, not only was it the scene of my first MotoGP win but also where I took the title in 2020. Conditions this late in the year will be a bit tricky there, especially in the morning so we will need to be careful. We keep on working.

O conteúdo Joan Mir returns to a track of ‘good memories’ to end the season: ‘The aim is to keep improving’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

There is a possibility of granting development concessions to Honda in MotoGP, similar to what has been considered for Yamaha, as they aim to regain ground lost to European constructors.

Joan Mir, who represents Honda, argues that the manufacturer should have access to these benefits. He stated to Motorsport.com that it would be selfish on the part of the European brands:

– When KTM and Aprilia needed concessions, and Honda didn’t need them, they were given. I think it would be selfish if now that we need them, and Yamaha also, although they are in a different situation, they didn’t give them.

O conteúdo ‘It would be selfish if they didn’t give us concessions’ – Joan Mir aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Joan Mir’s commentary on Luca Marini’s potential move to Repsol Honda in 2024 offers an insightful glimpse into the dynamics of MotoGP rider transfers and team strategies. Mir, who has established himself as a formidable competitor in the MotoGP world, brings a unique perspective to this discussion, given his own experiences and achievements in the sport.

Mir’s focus on Marini’s physical stature isn’t just a casual observation. It underscores a critical aspect of MotoGP racing – the synergy between a rider’s physical attributes and the bike’s ergonomics. The Honda RC213V, known for its demanding nature, has been a challenge for many riders. Marini, standing at 184 cm, might find it particularly challenging to adapt his riding style to the compact and aggressive nature of the Honda. This adjustment is crucial, as the bike’s handling and performance are significantly influenced by how well a rider can physically mesh with the machine.

Beyond the physical aspects, Mir’s comments about Marini’s methodical approach and seriousness on the track point to the mental and strategic elements of MotoGP racing. The ability to methodically dissect a track, understand the bike’s behavior, and execute a race strategy is what separates good riders from great ones. Marini’s reputed meticulousness could be a significant asset in his adaptation to the Honda bike and his overall performance with the team.

Mir’s observations about the changes within Honda also reveal the complexities of MotoGP team dynamics. The departure of Marc Marquez from Honda marks a significant shift, not just for the team but for the sport as a whole. Marquez’s aggressive and boundary-pushing style defined Honda’s approach in recent years. With his departure and potential arrival of riders like Marini, Honda might be on the cusp of a new era, one that could see a different racing philosophy and approach to bike development.

“ I’m already impatient to see how Luca will perform on the Honda. You will only see the knees and elbows, I know him and I like him . He is an intelligent and experienced pilot. He’s not a reckless driver who constantly drives at his limits and always risks everything on the brakes.”

Moreover, Mir’s own experiences and challenges with Honda this season add another layer to his perspective. His struggles and the team’s overall performance paint a picture of a team in transition, grappling with technical issues and seeking a new direction. This context makes Marini’s potential move even more intriguing, as it could signal a new chapter for both the rider and the team.

In conclusion, Joan Mir’s comments on Luca Marini joining Honda are more than just a passing remark on a fellow rider’s career move. They offer a deeper understanding of the physical, mental, and strategic complexities of MotoGP racing. As the sport continues to evolve, with new riders and teams emerging, these insights become invaluable in appreciating the nuances and intricacies of this high-octane world.

O conteúdo Joan Mir laughs at Luca Marini on the possible move to Honda: “You will only see the knees and elbows” aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Joan Mir is looking forwards to get on the action in the next GP, this weekend at Losail. However, the Honda rider expects things to be interesting due to the fact he is facing the track on a «new» bike and at a different time of the year, recalling he had ‘decent’ performances in there.

In a team statement, the number 36 previewed the next racing competition days:

– We will keep working, keep pushing and keep racing until the very last lap in Valencia. This weekend is no different. For me personally, I’ve had some decent results in Qatar in the past and there’s a new surface with all the changes so it will be interesting to ride the Honda there. It’s another weekend to learn as much as we can.

O conteúdo Joan Mir expects ‘interesting’ weekend in Qatar, a place where he had ‘decents results’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Joan Mir once again had a race in Sepang this sunday that will certainly not go down well in his memory. With only four laps completed, nine minutes after the start, the spaniard crashed and brought his participation to an early end, and he was upset, but not forgetting that the manufacturer has a lot of room for improvement.

After the long race at the Malaysian Grand Prix, the spaniard spoke to reporters at the scene and guaranteed that despite his season he won’t give up: ‘It’s hard for me to come to the press and tell the same story over and over again, but even if I keep crashing, I won’t give up’.

Confidence for the future is high for the former world champion, although Mir recognises that there is a lot of work ahead: ‘The margin for improvement for Honda next year is huge, they have a lot of work to do’.

Mir is currently 22nd in the championship with 24 points and has 23 crashes this year, four less than his teammate Marc Marquez.

O conteúdo Joan Mir and his 23rd crash of the season: ‘It’s hard to tell the same story over and over again; There’s much room for improvement’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Pedro Acosta secured yesterday his second world championship in three seasons and will make his jump to MotoGP in 2024, and Joan Mir praised the young prodigy for what he has been doing. He tell said that in MotoGP however the level is different with multiple race winners and world champions battling each other, recalling also that he will have a very competitive bike.

The Repsol Honda Rider began by congratulating the 19 year old spaniard star: ‘I am very happy for Acosta, what he is doing is incredible and I see him as a very good guy. He deserves all the success he is having. Winning in these small categories is not easy, there is a lot of competition, then the way he has won Moto2 is incredible, I wish him all the best for the future’.

In 2024 the level will be different and that will be tough for the youngster to cope with: ‘The hardest thing that can happen to him in MotoGP is to realise that there are all the roosters. There is a lot of level. One race you’re doing well, and the next you have to fight to get into the points. I believe that the potential and talent that Acosta has, can make him reach the top’.

At his disposal Acosta will have a RC16, with a lot of potential Mir added: ‘KTM will be a good challenge for the Ducatis, they will have strong riders. I see KTM as strong, it is a sure value that will improve because they are working very well. But there are a lot of Ducatis and they are very difficult to win’.

O conteúdo Joan Mir warns Pedro Acosta: ‘In MotoGP is where all the roosters are; There is a lot of level’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Honda has been struggling more than ever this season and giving the manufacturer concessions – and to Yamaha – has been a hot topic and today in Malaysia Joan Mir didn’t hide his unhappiness with the current results and «asked» for it to become a reality, recalling what happened in previous years with other brands.

The spaniard who failed to end today’s race, spoke about the matter: ‘I think it’s selfish now that Honda needs concessions, just like they gave it to KTM and Aprillia, now they don’t give it to us, just like Yamaha. We need a bit of help to be able to get to the level that the others are at. With eight Ducatis on track at that level we need help’.

With the Ducatis dominating, it is also important to have this «help»:

– They have the information, what doesn’t work and what can work, but I don’t know if they have found the key or if they are looking in another direction to get back to being the factory that they were. We have to wait, but these results, no matter how much you want them to, are a morale killer.

O conteúdo Joan Mir upset: ‘Honda needs concessions and, just like they gave it to KTM and Aprillia, now they don’t give it to us’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

After saying that Honda has been improving, despite some of these results aren’t being seen quite clearly, Joan Mir highlighted the fact that the competition seems to have improved a lot, which doesn’t look like the case of Honda.

The former world champion, then with Suzuki, began his analysis of what happened today, with the qualification in mind: ‘It was an intense day. In the morning I felt quite bad with the bike, I didn’t have a good feeling. Then we improved a little bit and in the qualifying I was able to make a step forward. The lap times are not bad, the ones we did in the qualifying. But it’s clear that everyone is improving a lot’.

He then recalled how intense and faster the current lap times are and, while everybody else seems to be getting better, on Honda’s case, it doesn’t feel like it: ‘Not so long ago, running in the low 58s would put you fifth, on the second row. This year, I started 16th with that time. It kind of shows how everyone is improving, how everyone else is improving. And we don’t seem to have improved at all since last year’.

Mir got later to speak of his race and how he actually got to improve after «missing» the start: ‘In the race, it wasn’t my best start, I didn’t find the right line to overtake. I went to the outside and I touched myself, then I lost a little bit of rhythm. Then I didn’t feel bad, I overtook Pol, I got in Pol’s way a little bit, he was in front. And it’s a bit like everyone tells you: when you’re behind someone, the tyre gets hot’.

As said earlier this week, also by Marc Marquez, when behind others the RC213V starts to have more issues: ‘And for us, without grip, the problem is accentuated, because you can’t brake and you can’t accelerate well. So it becomes a big challenge to ride this bike in those temperatures. And it ended in a crash. Then I got up, and I saw that I was riding in 0 low, 9 high. I think that was a bit of a pace to be in 8 to 12, which is where I think we could be’, before concluding:

– The easy thing to do would have been to take the bike back to the box and say ‘Tomorrow will be another day’. But I wanted to finish the race for me, to get the feeling and to get some information for tomorrow’s race. That’s it. That’s all I have to stay with.

O conteúdo Joan Mir wants more: ‘Not so long ago, running in the low 58s would put you on fifth, now we started 16th’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Joan Mir is determined to finish the season well and sees the Malaysian GP as ‘a good opportunity’ to confirm the improvements that have been made with the Honda since the start of the season.

The former world champion emphasised the team’s growth, although he recognises that this isn’t always easy to spot: ‘Although the results on paper maybe don’t show it fully, we have been coming better and better over the last few weeks. Coming back to Malaysia, we have some information from the test but more than anything it will be a good opportunity to see how we have progressed since the start of the year’.

And added: ‘It’s another triple so we need to keep our focus and make the most of all the opportunities that present themselves to us’.

O conteúdo Joan Mir highlights improvements that ‘can’t be seen on paper’; Sepang GP will be ‘good opportunity’ to see progression in 2023 aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The partnership between Marc Marquez and Joan Mir will come to an end in Valencia as the eldest of the spaniards will leave Honda at the end of the season to join Gresini Racing. But the rider from Palma de Mallorca is full of praise for the oldest brother in the Marquez clan.

‘The truth is that our relationship is very good, I’d say he’s the best teammate I’ve ever had, the relationship is very good, we’re all going in the same direction when it comes to developing the bike. We try to find the same things and what’s more, they’re alongside the best rider in the grid’ Mir told Mundo Deportivo.

Before joining Repsol Honda, Joan Mir teamed up with Alex Rins at Suzuki, who is currently at LCR Honda but will be moving to Yamaha in 2024.

O conteúdo ‘Marc Marquez is the best teammate I’ve ever had’ – Joan Mir aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.