Red Bull Ring ‘so dangerous’ in the wet, ‘safety is not enough’ - Mir

Joan Mir was in top form on day-one of the Styrian MotoGP as he finished inside the top three in both wet and dry conditions. 

Mir set the pace throughout FP1’ dry conditions until a late time-attack from Takaaki Nakagami saw the LCR Honda man finish fastest.

While in the wet conditions of FP2, it was a similar result for Mir at the track where he claimed his first ever grand prix victory (Moto3 2017).

But even though the Spaniard looks like a firm favorite for the race no matter the conditions, Mir called the Austrian circuit extremely ‘dangerous’ in wet conditions and that its ‘safety is not enough’. 

"It is really dangerous. Especially the first corner because that corner is very slippery and well, it’s dangerous; but turn three is so dangerous if you crash not alone," added Mir. 

"There’s not a problem (if you crash) alone I think, but in one group, it’s really dangerous that part. 

"I don’t know what we have to do, but the truth is that I think it’s not enough the safety now in the wet." 

This weekend marks the first race of the season in which Suzuki joins every other manufacturer in having the rear ride height device. 

The Spaniard didn’t try the device today, but intends to do so tomorrow along with team-mate Alex Rins. 

When asked about it and where he feels strong so far around the Styrian circuit, Mir added: "I feel strong on the braking area and also cornering in sector three-four, I feel great!

"I think that we must focus on the acceleration part. I’m losing a little bit there so we can improve that and we can be really strong, so I hope to make another step. 

"It’s something (ride height device) that I hope we will try tomorrow and like this we can work. Of course, it’s the first prototype and we will need to work a bit, but tomorrow will be a good day to try this thing - to work on it a bit and to try to understand it." 

The delay in using it today was caused by the device not arriving until just before FP1 began. 

Rins said: "About the rear device, the boxes with the rear device arrived 30 mins before FP2 so we couldn't use it today. 

"Let’s try it tomorrow. Now the mechanics are putting it on the bike. We have work to do tomorrow. We have to go direct to Q2 tomorrow. So, let’s see if we can try it well."