Joan Mir at a Crossroads: Navigating the Future After Suzuki’s Exit

Joan Mir: "Several choices are available, yet I'm uncertain about my desires."

Joan Mir requires "a little more time" to "make a wise choice regarding my future."

Following a commitment to Suzuki for his entire MotoGP journey and securing the championship in 2020, Joan Mir was unexpectedly in search of a new team after the manufacturer announced its exit from the competition at the conclusion of 2022.

Currently in the last year of his existing contract with Repsol Honda, the 26-year-old faces a decision akin to the one his previous team-mate Marc Marquez had to make:

Could Mir hold out for a Honda comeback or pursue immediate success with a European motorcycle, even if it involves signing with a satellite squad?

The impact of Marquez's leading performance since leaving Honda for a year-old Gresini Ducati on Mir's decision remains uncertain, but #36 acknowledges having several 'choices available'.

"Mir stated, "There are several choices available to me, yet I'm uncertain about my direction. I require additional time to comprehend and make a well-informed decision regarding my future. That's the situation."

Following 24 finishes within the top five, which encompassed 13 podium appearances and a single race victory with Suzuki, Mir accumulated merely 26 points during his last season with Honda.

Among the six Grand Prix races he completed, amid various mishaps and injuries, the best performance by the Spanish driver was securing a fifth place in India, marking his sole entry into the top ten.

Currently leading Honda's roster in the early 2024 rankings, Mir has only accumulated twelve points and his best grand prix finish has been twelfth place.

Mir acknowledged that the significant shift in performance after departing from Suzuki, a transition his new Repsol teammate Luca Marini is currently undergoing, has a psychological impact.

"It's quite challenging. Reflecting on my journey, I transitioned from securing two championships across three different classes within a span of four years," commented the victor of the 2017 Moto3 world championship.

"This implies that I consistently led the pack every year. A challenging year would involve battling for the fifth spot.

"The positive outcomes were your fuel. Presently, that source is gone, requiring you to find new methods of self-motivation."

Focusing on the minor details, optimizing the resources available to you since you can't do beyond that, and dedicating your full effort. This is the drive you must discover presently.

"Indeed, it's challenging. The greater your past achievements, the harder it becomes to grasp the current circumstances.

"The previous year posed significant mental challenges for me. However, this year, my mindset seems to have shifted."

"I strive to fully commit, maintain professionalism, provide accurate feedback, and my goal is to continuously improve."

Nevertheless, prior to this week's confidential Mugello trial, Mir admitted:

Honda is putting in a lot of effort, yet currently, we're not receiving the necessary improvements. Therefore, I'm genuinely uncertain about what the season's end will bring.

"I'm optimistic that during the Mugello trial, we'll receive an improvement to advance further."

“If, similar to our experience in Jerez, we found ourselves 20 seconds behind the leaders with our current setup, then reducing that gap to just 12 or 15 seconds would represent significant progress.”

Several teams might be keen on enticing Mir away from Repsol Honda, including Trackhouse, which is currently managed by Mir's ex-Suzuki team leader, Davide Brivio.

Among Honda's quartet of MotoGP competitors, both Mir and Takaaki Nakagami have contracts expiring this year, while newcomers Marini and Zarco are secured with agreements that extend through the close of 2025.

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