Joan Mir’s MotoGP future is completely open – He denies speculation about ending his career – But he clearly states that he doesn’t have many options
Joan Mir is one of the many MotoGP riders facing an uncertain future. Will the 2020 World Champion stay with Honda or will there be an opportunity with another team? At Trackhouse-Aprilia, for example, where Davide Brivio, his old acquaintance who gave Mir a chance at Suzuki back in 2019, is team boss
There is also speculation in the paddock about the possibility of Mir ending his racing career after this year. “I don’t think I’ll be going home,” says the 26-year-old, wanting to refute these rumors.
Mir’s career has been very successful so far. In 2017, he became world champion in his second Moto3 season. After a year in Moto2, he went straight into the premier class, where he also became world champion in his second season.
But when Suzuki pulled out and he switched to Honda, things went downhill in sporting terms. Mentally, this situation was not easy to come to terms with, as Mir also noted several times last year.
Marc Marquez, his team-mate last year, is a role model in this respect. “The trick is to get out of this difficult situation,” says Mir. “I’ve often spoken to Marc about how he felt last year and how he feels now. That’s an example I can follow.”
The big question is what alternatives Mir will actually have to Honda. He knows that he is not currently in the best negotiating position: “When I went to Honda, I had a lot of offers. At that time, I could have gone anywhere. “
“But that’s no longer the case today. I have to wait for the decision of other drivers who have priority. I have to prove myself, that’s the reality. Regardless of my successes in the past, the other riders have the results at the moment.”
“Four or five riders have priority, I am behind [in the list].” Now that the most important decision has been made at Ducati, the other pieces of the puzzle could fall into place in the coming weeks until the summer break after the Sachsenring.
“In Assen, I will probably have a clearer picture of what I want to do,” Mir also looks ahead to the race weekends at the end of June and beginning of July. “I need all the options on the table to be able to make a decision.”
“That’s not the case at the moment. I don’t know what I want to do yet. I will wait until I have all the offers on the table and then decide.” Honda team boss Alberto Puig spoke of the summer as the time to talk to riders.
Mir achieved a top 10 result in his first Honda season with fifth place in India. His best result this season was ninth place in the Jerez sprint race
