Joan Mir: "I’m finally back to my true MotoGP style" - An Exclusive Insight
Joan Mir, the former champion of MotoGP, has triumphantly returned to the podium in the premier class with Honda this season, marking a significant milestone nearly four years since he last stood on the rostrum with Suzuki.
It’s understandable that there were times when Mir questioned if he would ever reclaim that glory, especially after achieving only two top-ten finishes during his two-year stint with Honda prior to 2025.
The start of the 2025 season was particularly challenging for him, as he managed to finish just one of the first six Grand Prix races. A combination of unfortunate luck, racing incidents, and an ongoing struggle to find his footing all contributed to these difficulties.
"In the early part of the year, aiming for a top-seven finish was the best one could realistically hope for with this bike," Mir shared with Crash.net. "If anyone finished higher than that, it was often due to unique conditions or unexpected circumstances. The genuine potential was to put everything together and secure a top-seven position.
"We achieved seventh place at Aragon, but it was tough to do more unless someone ahead had a misfortune."
Later, Mir also secured a sixth-place finish in Austria, sandwiched between additional races where he did not finish. However, the turning point occurred after the latest aerodynamic and engine enhancements were rolled out at the Barcelona round.
"After Barcelona, we saw a slight improvement in both the aerodynamics and the engine connection, which had been bothering me quite a bit. That change sparked a personal shift for me as well," Mir explained.
Everything came together beautifully just two rounds later in Japan, where Mir achieved HRC's first MotoGP podium finish since Marc Marquez’s victory at the same Motegi circuit in 2023. This success added to Johann Zarco's earlier podiums in the season while riding for LCR Honda.
Mir then repeated this podium achievement at Sepang, a race he considers the highlight of his year. What made it stand out? "It was all about the bike's potential," he stated. "Historically, Sepang hasn’t been a strong track for us; traditionally, we struggle with grip there.
"To combat this, we had to brake aggressively and take more risks than others. After crashing in the sprint race, I was determined not to repeat that mistake! I managed the circumstances very well, so I'd definitely say Sepang was my best race."
Fans were on the edge of their seats as Mir showcased his impressive late-braking skills during the Malaysian Grand Prix—an attribute he had to tone down during his tenure with Suzuki.
"With the Suzuki, my riding style had to be different. I had to adapt by flowing more with the bike, braking earlier, and releasing the brakes sooner because that bike demanded such adjustments. Now, with Honda, I’ve returned to my natural style, reminiscent of my days in Moto3 and Moto2. I genuinely enjoy hard braking and really planting the bike into the ground.
"However, it is challenging since it requires me to push my limits further than others, and finding that balance and confidence is crucial. It can lead to crashes, but if I can ride with a bit more margin, we can manage that better."
Despite his podium finishes, Mir has faced a share of struggles, recording 21 non-scoring finishes out of 44 races, which placed him 15th in the world championship rankings, trailing behind both Zarco and his factory teammate, Luca Marini.
Nonetheless, the noticeable turnaround in his performance—which is also reflected in Honda's improvement from a D to a C ranking in the concessions system—has left him feeling optimistic as he looks toward 2026.
"This was a pivotal year for us," he remarked. "It was a time to turn things around, slowly but surely moving from weaker performances to stronger ones. Perhaps I took longer than I had hoped. We faced a lot of bad luck and struggled with consistency. Yet, in terms of performance, both for myself as a rider and for Honda in reversing our situation, it has been a very encouraging season.
"What we need now is another step forward to find greater consistency and potential. If I must continually ride at the limit like this, it will be tough. But I am hopeful that next year will build upon this foundation and allow us to go even higher."
Peter, who has been part of the paddock for two decades, has witnessed the rise and fall of legends like Valentino Rossi and has been closely involved with the narratives surrounding Suzuki’s exit and Marc Marquez’s injury challenges.
