Joan Mir’s best MotoGP finish since 2023: “I’ve never been happy with seventh before!”
Joan Mir claims his best MotoGP result since 2023: “Finally I could fight, but we don't have the tools for more”
Former MotoGP champion Joan Mir finished in the top six 30 times as a Suzuki rider from 2019-2022.
As such, he never expected to feel as happy about a seventh place as he did on Sunday in Aragon.
But after an eighth DNF of the season when he was taken out by Jack Miller in the Saturday Sprint, Mir admitted it was a big relief to claim his best Honda MotoGP result since fifth place in India 2023.
“Finally, we could finish the race with a more-or-less good result. I’ve never been happy with a seventh position in my career, but now I'm happy!" he said.
“We are in a very difficult situation and finally being able to fight with these guys, we have to be happy about it.
“We don't have the tools to do nothing more. So I will go to bed very calm with myself, knowing that I gave my 100%.
“We have to continue pushing hard. We are doing a good job and we are in the process of coming back, but it’s not enough.
“Still we miss acceleration, top speed and grip. These are things we must improve.
“On the other hand, I'm happy because on braking, corner speed and handling, we are in a very good moment. I'm able to fight and that is very positive.
“But to do something more we must improve the top speed, the power of the bike and the grip.
“If not it will be difficult to make races in a better position than 7th, if nothing happens [ahead] like today.”
The straight-line weakness was illustrated by Mir being ranked ahead of only Honda rookie Somkiat Chantra and Aprilia stand-in Lorenzo Savadori on the top speed charts at Aragon.
“When you overtake, you are super tense, thinking that on the straight they will overtake you back!” he admitted.
“The relief, after one lap without being overtaken, is massive.
“In practice, our pace alone is normally very good. It's acceptable. Close to the top five.
“But racing is another story.
“You have a lot of bikes around and you have to fight with them and can’t always find a clear track.
“For example, Yamaha in the past, if they started [at the front], they knew they had the pace if they were alone.
“We don't start on pole position and we are not the fastest on track, so that complicates a little bit the situation.”
With Mir’s team-mate Luca Marini absent due to injury, and LCR’s Johann Zarco crashing, Chanta was the only other Honda finisher, in 16th.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
