Honda factory rider Joan Mir criticizes the handling of MotoGP track limits and explains why the current system is unfair
The track limits in MotoGP have already affected a number of races. If a rider overruns the kerbs in a race and enters the area behind them, he receives a warning for the first offense and has to complete a long lap penalty the second time. If there is a violation of the track limits on the last lap, the “offender” will be moved back one position
Not all riders are happy with the way the MotoGP track limits are handled. Honda works rider Joan Mir is not exactly thrilled with the current system either. At the last Grand Prix weekend at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, Mir received a long lap penalty because he exceeded the track limits twice.
“We have to differentiate between making up time and not making up time,” said the Spaniard, who agrees that you are penalized if you make up time. “But if you are overtaken by another driver, pushed off the line and then come onto the green and lose time, then that shouldn’t count. It just doesn’t make sense,” he grumbles.
Mir would therefore like overtaking to be counted only if it gives the driver an advantage. However, drivers often misjudge and lose time, but still receive a warning, which then becomes a penalty on the second offense.
“I’m sure this happens to a lot of riders when you can’t decelerate the bike properly, go off the line, lose time as a result and then receive a warning. We need to talk about that,” explained Mir, who was irritated during the sprint in Austria when he was shown a long lap penalty. “When I got the message with the track limits, I didn’t understand why,” remarks the Spanish Honda rider, who came away from the race weekend in Austria completely empty-handed.
