The two days of testing in Jerez are eagerly awaited by Joan Mir who lost the MotoGP riders' world title this season, won last year. This season, he was unable to win anything with the Suzuki and the opportunities to save his honor were reduced even further at the end of the campaign as Ducati flaunted its new power. A domination even, which knocked out the rider of the GSX-RR during the last round in Valencia. During the two days of testing ahead, he hopes to find something to hope for in the Hamamatsu manufacturer's project for 2022, recalling that the situation is serious...
Joan mir finished third overall in the 2021 season of MotoGP, and without the slightest success in getting their teeth into it. Regularity was therefore still his strong point. But he knows that this is no longer enough to make the difference, as in 2020, a year nevertheless marked by a success in Valencia. However, this time, from the same Valencian route, it was not satisfaction that came out of it. It is rather a free warning for 2022 which was formulated by Ducati giving the impression of circling around their opponents.
An experience in this final Grand Prix which is still in the mind of Joan mir and on which he insists, as if to make it clear to Suzuki that Jerez, in the coming hours, he expects his employer to give him the weapons to respond to the missiles from Borgo Panigale: “ I had no advantage to exploit to fight with the Ducatis. It's a frustrating situation » says the Majorcan who adds: “ I found myself alone among the Ducatis, and without any chance of catching up with them ". And he ends: “ the problem was that I wasn't competing against just one Ducati, there were Ducatis everywhere ».
Joan mir is also in the analysis: “ Last year I saw some weak points in them. So, with all their power, they were forced at the end of the race to manage the tires which were wearing out more quickly, and therefore to be more careful in the turns. This is no longer the case. On the contrary, it seems that instead of losing performance they gain in the latter stages of the race. Obviously the opposite happens to me, I don't understand why and it worries me. I can ride and be fast with different riding styles but I don't see any weak points to exploit, we just have to work hard in the next tests ».
Joan Mir: “motor development is possible again, I think we have a good margin for progress”
The pilot Suzuki even has numerical data that makes his presentation unstoppable: “ if you make a comparison between this year's race times and those of last season 2020, in which I won, Ducati gained 15 seconds compared to last year. If you analyze, they made an incredible leap ».
The Ogre Ducati is therefore something to be frightened of. So, what is the atmosphere in the camp? Suzuki ? “ I must say that the atmosphere in the pits is good, the improvements at Suzuki are obvious, I firmly believe in the project and the next tests, it will be fundamental, but as a rider I cannot help but say that I am disappointed with this result ". The tests of Jerez are mentioned as fundamental. And this is the opportunity to state what he expects: “ The most important thing in the next tests will not be to be fast, but to drive as much as possible and try different solutions. We will try to collect all the data possible thanks to the two Suzuki testers, they also have several tests to carry out ».
« Luckily for us, in the next tests we will have a lot of new things to work on, beyond the technical details of the bike. This race in Valencia was important, but the next tests will be even more important. Now that motor development is possible again, I think we have a good margin of progress for next season ". A real subject this engine, which is also at the center of all the debates at Yamaha ...
