Joan Mir, injured in an ankle after a heavy fall that went almost unnoticed at the last Austrian Grand Prix, will not be at the next meeting in Misano, at the beginning of September. But we should still talk about him in a press release. Not the one from Suzuki announcing the name of its replacement who could be Danilo Petrucci or Axel Bassani… But another one stamped Honda with Repsol next to it. At least, that's what his manager strongly hopes...
His name is Paco Sanchez and he is the manager of Joan mir as Remy Gardner. And for now, none of its riders have a contract for the 2023 MotoGP season. It is therefore not an easy year for the one who was, moreover, poetically identified by Pete Beirer, sports director at KTMas an a scourge at least identical to COVID in the paddock. Whatever happens, the exercise will not remain in his memory as a good time, and even less so since the Australian's fate seems to be decided in MotoGP, a few months after having joined it as World Champion of Moto2…
But what about his other World Champion, MotoGP this time, 2020 vintage? There were also big doubts as soon as a factory was announced Suzuki ending its GSX-RR program. A real shock for its pilot: “ the abandonment of Suzuki was very difficult to digest » he said on Motoracing. And it was felt on the track: six retirements in nine races are to be deplored for the Majorcan who had never experienced such a series: “ it's the worst season of his sporting career » says Sanchez of his pilot without handlebars and no longer in a fair position to negotiate with anyone, because he is guaranteed to find himself with nothing at the end of the year... " Negotiations for its future were hard and long » assures the manager.
"Avant Misano nous pourrons annoncer quelque chose sur Joan Mir"
But we will notice that he speaks of it as of a bygone period. Joan mir would now have a future: “ we have made a lot of progress with HRC and we will definitely be able to confirm this news in the coming days » he rejoices, specifying that, all the same, we came close to this incredible outcome first put forward as a joke, which was to stay at home… “ Fortunately, his professional destiny does not depend on the results obtained in 2022, otherwise we would really be in trouble. Joan has a successful career, being a very consistent driver. This year, these are truly exceptional circumstances ».
Paco Sanchez puts this fall at the Red Bull Ring and the subsequent injury among these exceptions: “ in these circumstances, with such a balanced championship and with a champion like Joan who is not satisfied with finishing eighth or tenth, it exceeds the limits of the motorcycle » he said before finally giving a deadline to close a file which was delayed because of the question of salary and a subject Peter Acosta with whom we spoke at Honda... " For the moment there is nothing closed, we are down to the final details of the contract and they are small things. Before Misano – assured the manager of Joan mir - we can announce something ". At the house of Ducati Also, we should reveal something...
