Joan Mir Embraces Engine Testing Over Current Challenges, Eyes Future Improvement Ahead of Austrian GP

Joan Mir: “I'd rather be evaluating motors than stick with the current one for the upcoming race!”

Joan Mir: “Sure, it's not ideal, but given our circumstances, it's beneficial. I'd choose to evaluate motors over using the current one in the next race!”

Joan Mir was unexpectedly pleased with how he was faring in the British MotoGP race, but his optimism was cut short when an engine problem forced him out of the competition halfway through.

Mir was aware that he needed to maximize the current setup, as the upcoming Honda engine upgrade wouldn't be available until the Austria race in two weeks.

This encompasses the updated engine unveiled in Barcelona, which, according to Mir, delivers lower peak performance compared to the original model.

In a strategic move that could be likened to retreating momentarily to make a greater advancement later, Mir has reverted to using the conventional engines for Mugello. Following this, he and his teammate Luca Marini have opted for the less potent (modified) engines over the last three races.

At Silverstone, Takaaki Nakagami from LCR was the sole Honda competitor to unveil new engines, which seemed to match the present Repsol model. Meanwhile, his teammate Zarco continued using the earlier model.

It's speculated that all four Honda racers will be equipped with engines of a 'new configuration' in Austria, drawing inspiration from the 'Barcelona' engine specification.

Subsequently, following his defeat to Marini by a margin of 0.6 seconds for the 15th position in Saturday's Sprint, Mir attributed adjustments made to the set-up for enhancing his comfort during the Grand Prix.

In the 2020 championship, the titleholder found themselves in 14th position, sandwiched between Marini and Pramac Ducati's Franco Morbidelli, who was making a comeback from two long laps, at the moment his motorcycle experienced a shutdown.

Mir, donning a replica helmet of Randy Mamola, stood next to Honda's classic motorcycle, which was adorned to celebrate the 75th anniversary of their grand prix, and cited a "technical issue."

"The indicators on the control panel lit up, and the bike lost its drive while on a straight path. It seems to be an electrical issue since there was no oil leakage."

"Truthfully, throughout the entire weekend, I felt incredibly good while riding the bike."

"I managed to maintain a strong competitive edge. I regained positive sensations. Luca was ahead of me, while I focused on managing the tyre wear, a crucial aspect in this context, being aware that Morbidelli was trailing.

“When Morbidelli was about to pass both me and Luca, my plan was to get ahead of Luca and attempt to pull away. However, the very lap that Morbidelli managed to get past us, I encountered this issue.”

Honda has the flexibility to alter its engine architecture throughout the season, similar to Yamaha, thanks to certain allowances.

"From my perspective, as I've previously mentioned, the performance diminishes with the current setup of the engine," Mir stated.

"It's evident that Taka faced significant challenges over the weekend due to issues with the engine, echoing the same concerns I've had regarding the engine's performance."

"In the [standard 2024] model, which Johann, for instance, has adopted, I found it to be the most powerful offering this year.

"However, we found ourselves somewhat off track [with the setup] as experimenting with various [engine] setups led us to believe we could make enhancements in certain areas."

Ultimately, improving your race performance might come from making minimal adjustments to your bike.

"We attempted to alter the design or whatever aspect 100 times, but it's failing to provide us with the additional traction or speed boost that we're lacking."

"Thus, it's advantageous to make an attempt and ensure you're truly at ease leading the way, while striving to maintain a strong rhythm."

"We reverted to the configuration I started the year with, which allowed me to be more aggressive on the front. During the race, I was pleased with how it felt."

"From this point forward, it seems that will become my foundation, and I won't touch anything else."

"I anticipate minimal adjustments will be necessary for the alternate engine set to arrive in Austria."

In response to whether he enjoys the opportunity to experiment with various engines throughout the season, Mir responded with a smile:

"Indeed, it may not seem pleasant, but given our circumstances, it's beneficial… I'd rather we conduct engine tests than deal with this issue in the upcoming race!"

Zarco continues to lead among Honda contestants, holding the 18th position in the global championship, with Mir and Nakagami closely trailing him.

Marini ranks 23rd, holding a single point, following a demotion from 15th position at Silverstone because of a penalty for low tyre pressure after the race.

Explore Further

Recent Updates

Recent Updates

Site Navigation

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Copying or replicating the content, images, or graphics in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.