Joan Mir, the 2020 MotoGP champion, has candidly reflected on his challenges with Honda, admitting that his early success with Suzuki left him “spoiled” and unprepared for the harsh realities of an uncompetitive bike. Since joining Repsol Honda in 2023, Mir has faced difficulties adjusting to a struggling machine, leading to a tough period in his career.
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From MotoGP Stardom to Honda’s Challenges
Joan Mir’s arrival at Honda marked a significant shift in his MotoGP journey. After Suzuki’s exit from the championship, Mir joined Repsol Honda, a team grappling with a decline in performance. This transition exposed him to a level of struggle he hadn’t previously encountered.
During his first season with Honda, Mir finished 22nd and last in the championship standings, a stark contrast to his championship-winning year in 2020. Even in 2024, his results were disappointing, only managing to outscore his new teammate, Luca Marini.
A Spoiled Start: Mir Reflects on His Early Success
Mir admits that his impressive start to MotoGP with Suzuki made it difficult to adapt to racing at the back of the grid. Reflecting on his early years, Mir shared, “Throughout my career, I’ve had very good results and very early on. I came to MotoGP in 2019, and the first year I was already like a shot. The second year, I won the title.”
This rapid rise to the top gave Mir a sense of security and momentum. Even an injury in 2020 failed to derail his trajectory. I never experienced any tough moments until I joined Honda. And here, the odyssey began,” he explained.
Motivation Waning Amid Honda’s Struggles
The difficulties Mir faced with Honda also affected his mental state and motivation. Team boss Alberto Puig acknowledged that Mir needed to regain his competitive edge, describing him as the cornerstone of the team’s development efforts.
However, Mir admitted that the lack of results took its toll. “It’s easy to lose motivation when you’ve always been driven by results and then suddenly you stop getting them. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed racing,” he confessed.
Despite his struggles, Mir ultimately decided to continue with Honda, signing a two-year extension. The decision was driven by a belief that he could contribute to improving the bike and rediscovering his form.
Pre-Season Testing Brings a Ray of Hope
Honda’s recent efforts in pre-season testing appear to have provided a glimmer of hope for Mir. At Buriram, he set the eighth-fastest lap time and finished as the fastest Honda rider, 0.850 seconds behind Marc Marquez, who now races on a factory Ducati.
This progress was significant for Mir, who had been outperformed by satellite Honda riders for two consecutive seasons. Reflecting on the testing, he shared, “What I’ve enjoyed during these days of testing is amazing – simply for being able to ride the bike the way I like it. For example, being able to enter the corners sideways. Not for the results.”
What Mir Wants from Honda Moving Forward
While Mir was encouraged by the bike’s improvements, he emphasized the need for Honda to focus on top-speed performance. “The only thing I ask from Honda is for the bike to be a bit faster and have slightly more top speed,” he stated.
The Road Ahead for Joan Mir
Joan Mir’s journey with Honda is a story of perseverance and adaptation. From the highs of winning the MotoGP championship in just his second season to the lows of struggling with an uncompetitive bike, Mir’s career reflects the unpredictable nature of the sport.
As he enters the next phase with Honda, Mir hopes that continued development will help him regain his competitive edge and rediscover the joy of racing. For now, his focus remains on pushing himself and the team to deliver better results.
With signs of progress in testing and a renewed sense of determination, Joan Mir’s story with Honda is far from over. Whether he can recapture his championship-winning form remains to be seen, but his resilience and candid reflections demonstrate a rider unwilling to give up on success.
