With much-needed upgrades, including a new engine setup, expected for the upcoming round in Austria, Joan Mir's top priority was simply to get her Honda back to the box without incident during Saturday's British MotoGP Sprint. The 2020 world champion estimates he is losing up to 1-1,5 seconds per lap due to a lack of engine performance on Silverstone's long straights.
However, Joan mir chose to join his teammate Luca marini and persists with an underpowered engine, introduced earlier this season, as it is seen as a first step in the right direction… After crossing the finish line in 16th position, behind a train Honda of three pilots led by John Zarco of LCR, Mir said: “ it was a very difficult race, I didn't really have the opportunity to be close to the non-Honda drivers. So I decided to stay with the Hondas. I don't think we should do anything crazy and bringing the bike back to the pit is probably the smartest thing to do in these conditions »
He added : " we always do video comparisons and in every straight line we waste a lot of time. Two tenths, three tenths in each part of the straight where normally the drivers do nothing. If you have a lot of straights like this circuit, it's easy to lose 1 to 1,5 seconds. But we know our current limits and we just have to stay on the bike »
Joan Mir: “ for me this engine was a step back to take two steps forward in the future »
Joan mir explained that Honda had changed the engine configuration two races ago, a direction the Japanese engineers will take to improve the bike in the future. “ For me, it was one step back to take two steps forward in the future. This is why we lost a little personal performance »
After removing the new underpowered engine after Barcelona, Mir handed it over to the Sachsenring to collect data. “ Our situation does not improve this weekend, but after tomorrow, we will have new equipment, new improvements. This will also be helpful for mindset and everything else. It won't just come here on Thursday and know that you won't have the opportunity to be near other motorcycles »
These upgrades will include another new engine configuration. “ In Spielberg we will have a different configuration in terms of engine ", confirmed Joan mir. " This will be useful. I just want to fight with the group in front, but now we do not have the choice »
When asked why his teammate Marini seemed more satisfied with Saturday's result, Mir smiled : " we both have 18 seconds late! I'm glad he's happy! But I'm not! It is reality ! »
Joking about the retro livery Honda which will be used during Sunday's race, Mir said : " the situation will be different in this color tomorrow! But if we can get just a tenth of the story, it will be very welcome »
Meanwhile, LCR teammates, zarco et Takaaki Nakagami, said they were currently using a different engine specification than the Repsol drivers, but would also have to get the new engine for the next round. “ I don't know how much I can improve with this new engine in Austria, but yesterday I received very clear feedback and I hope we will have improvements ", said zarco.
The Frenchman, however, warned that the engine alone would not be enough to propel the RC213V from the back of the grid and is hoping for a package of upgrades. “ If the current problems could be solved only at the engine level, that would be super positive. But I do not think so. I have a feeling something else isn't working as it should ", did he declare.
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