In the heart of Buriram, Joan Mir, the talented rider from Mallorca, is grappling with the harsh realities of the MotoGP arena, particularly as he gears up for the Thailand Grand Prix. Following an optimistic stint at the Sepang test, where Mir envisioned himself battling for a top 5 finish, his confidence has taken a hit after recent evaluations at the challenging Buriram circuit. This weekend, he’s recalibrated his expectations, now aiming for a top 8 finish instead.
Mir candidly shared his frustrations, stating, “I think it’s more of a circuit issue. I expected more from this track during the test. Coming from Sepang, the improvement was quite good compared to last season.” His words resonate with the weight of experience, as he acknowledges Buriram’s difficulty. The grip issues faced during testing have left him unable to push the bike to its limits, a critical factor for any competitive rider. “We see more differences compared to Ducati, Aprilia, and the others. It’s going to be tough because, in terms of performance, right now we are behind,” he lamented.
Determined to maximize his potential, Mir emphasized the need for a 100% effort this weekend, expressing hope that they can make significant strides with the bike. “Tomorrow we will try to give it our all and understand where we stand. It’s just the first race. We must remain calm but aim to do a good job,” he added, showcasing his resilient spirit.
When pressed about the technical setbacks that have hindered Honda’s performance, Mir chose his words carefully, acknowledging that configuration issues might sometimes mask deeper problems. “The reality is that when you have no grip, it’s hard to compensate for it. When there’s a lack of mechanical grip, it becomes a nightmare. If you have too much grip with the setup, you can compensate well, but without it, generating pace becomes difficult. So we are in that process,” he explained, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the team.
Reflecting on his previous season, where he fought for podium finishes, including a notable third place in Japan, Mir remains hopeful. “I hope we can pick up from there, yes, I expect it. Ending the year well always helps to start the next one positively. I feel strong on the bike. I feel like I’m riding well right now. But we need to address some issues with the bike, maintaining consistency and strength throughout all races. Because right now, we are dealing with two different circuits. We were very fast in Sepang. Here, not so much. That’s our current reality. I hope we can improve a bit because we are quite far behind, and that means the margin is high.”
As Honda grapples with the implications of their performance, Mir noted that the team’s past successes have led to a loss of some of their concession privileges, which previously helped them navigate tough periods. “That helps when you’re lost, when you need to find your way. The concessions helped us a lot. But once you have a clearer direction and know the next steps you want to take, I believe they are no longer necessary. That’s partly what’s happening now,” he remarked, emphasizing the need for precision and confidence in their upcoming strategies.
In the backdrop of these challenges, recent changes within Honda’s MotoGP structure have not gone unnoticed. Mir acknowledged the departure of Hikaru Tsukamoto, a key figure in Honda’s team, stating, “I heard that news today. I can’t comment much on it. It’s just movements within Honda. The company is large, and sometimes they make these kinds of moves. They try to choose the best for the company. We wish Tsukamoto the best in the future.”
As the engines roar to life in Buriram, all eyes will be on Mir and Honda, hoping they can turn their fortunes around and reclaim their position among the elite of MotoGP.
