Joan Mir’s Resilient Comeback in Motegi Sprint: Near Highside and Brake Issues to Top Eight Pace

Joan Mir believes he had the speed to be the fastest non-Ducati rider in the Motegi Sprint, despite a close call with a highside incident.

Joan Mir fell to the back, trailing by more than 30 seconds in the first lap of the Japanese MotoGP Sprint race, following a close call with a highside and subsequent brake issues.

However, the Repsol Honda managed to achieve a speed that could have contended for what eventually turned out to be the sixth to eighth spots before bowing out on the last lap.

"Though it might seem natural to feel disappointed considering our current situation, Mir pointed out that today was actually filled with positive outcomes."

During the initial lap, I nearly lost control in a highside maneuver at Turn 10, and by the time I approached Turn 11, I was unable to halt, leading me into the gravel. It's likely that the brake pads separated [during the highside].

"After regaining my rhythm, I managed to fully tap into my velocity over several laps, and I must admit, I'm quite pleased with my speed."

"Our pace matched that of the top eight contenders, and we should feel pleased with this level of progress."

From laps 4 through 11, Mir outpaced Gresini Ducati's Alex Marquez, who ultimately secured the seventh position, and KTM's Jack Miller, who finished eighth and was the highest-placed rider not on a Ducati, by a margin of one second.

This makes Mir hopeful for Sunday's complete race, even though beginning from the 17th position is still a significant disadvantage.

"Securing a more advantageous spot on the grid would significantly benefit us. Given the pace we demonstrated today, I'm optimistic about our performance in the extended race tomorrow."

Luca Marini, part of the same team, emerged as the leading Honda competitor, securing 13th place, and was also unexpectedly satisfied with his speed. From the fourth to the eleventh lap, Marini's time was 1.7 seconds behind Mir's pace.

"Marini expressed his astonishment at our speed, noting how we nearly matched the group ahead and maintained a decent position. Given our starting point and where we stood the previous day, he felt content with the day's outcome."

"Arriving at this circuit, we were aware that its design might pose a challenge, yet we've managed to advance by battling through, which is critical. Next, we plan to analyze the performance data from other competitors to understand their distinct strategies."

"We have a few more strategies to test out tomorrow to take it up a notch, but it's clear we're advancing and now capable of implementing this at every race."

During the race, an incident occurred between Johann Zarco and Takaaki Nakagami, both from the LCR Honda team, resulting in Nakagami crashing and Zarco receiving a long lap penalty, ultimately finishing in 14th place.

Honda achieved their top performances of the season at Mandalika last weekend, securing eighth place in the Sprint and ninth in the Grand Prix, both courtesy of Zarco.

Explore Further

Sign up for our MotoGP Bulletin

Stay updated with the newest MotoGP developments, exclusive content, one-on-one interviews, and special offers delivered straight to your email.

For additional details, refer to our Privacy Policy.

Recent Updates

Additional Updates

Site Navigation

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Reproducing the text, photos, or illustrations, whether in full or in part, is strictly prohibited in any manner.