When reading the timesheet delivered to the Argentine Grand Prix this Friday, Joan Mir had nothing to rejoice about. The only Honda official lined up this weekend at Termas de Rio Hondo, due to Marc Marquez's withdrawal due to injury, was downright the last of the gang from the world's leading manufacturer. Beaten by his distinguished colleagues nestled in the LCR satellite team, he drank the chalice to the dregs when he saw them enter the Q2 wagon while remaining on the platform waiting for the Q1 wagon. However, the 2020 MotoGP World Champion with Suzuki does not panic…
Joan mir, alone in his Repsol Honda box commented on his Friday of Argentine Grand Prix, second of the 21 stages of the 2023 MotoGP season. “ It was quite a difficult day » he admits first. “ We started with a base setting that wasn't the best for this track, and we spent a lot of time working on it to improve ».
But he also observed his two distinguished colleagues: “ there is clearly a lot of potential with the bike, Taka and Rins were strong, but I'm just missing the last tenths. We made a lot of progress and ultimately our pace at the end, especially with the worn tires, was pretty close to the top five ».
Joan Mir: “ This is still only our second race, so it's all part of the processs”
He finishes : " we just need more time now to work on the details, it’s still only our second race, so it’s part of the process. Even so, we were able to make big improvements on Friday and we aim to continue this Saturday ».
Listening carefully to the Majorcan it seems that the subject was the approach and the work with the team. This Saturday, after the third free practice session, Mir will have to go through Q1 and try to assert himself as one of the two fastest drivers to participate in the session which will define the top of the starting grid.
Results of P2 of the MotoGP Argentine Grand Prix at the Termas de Río Hondo circuit:
