With Joan Mir, there was Jack Miller in Austin and the outcome was tense, there was Petrucci in Misano and it ended well, and for the third time in a row, a new incident pitted him against one of his colleagues, in this case Alex Marquez. Victim or perpetrator, in the end, it always ends with grand gestures, outpourings and explanations. Anyone who admits to needing a break because of “ burn-out » recounts the reasons for his last heated discussion with the LCR Honda pilot.
Joan mir could have exulted with happiness seeing themselves third at the end of the qualifications of this Algarve Grand Prix. One of his finest performances in the exercise for ages which promises him a great race with the convincing result that he expects with his Suzuki also for quite a long time. But before falling into the arms of his family in the stands, he stopped next toAlex Marquez for him it's done. A lively discussion ensued…
The 2020 MotoGP World Champion says: “ I made the first turn, he slowed down, and I decided to go ahead. He wanted to follow me, which was no problem for me. I did the first lap to warm up the tires, and on the second lap, which is the only lap left, he passed me in the first corner, then he cut the gas…I don’t really understand this maneuver ». Alex Marquez qualified eighth.
A career-best Qualifying in #MotoGP for @JoanMirOfficial! 👏
His first front row since Styria 2020 (when a penalty promoted him to third) although he isn't best pleased with @ alexmarquez73! 👀#AlgarveGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/qLY2xnavDN
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 6, 2021
Alex Marquez: “ Joan Mir was really pissed«
The teammate ofalex rins with a much less favorable fate since eleventh adds: “ It's not that I'm unhappy with the qualification, I am, but when you can't give 100%, it gets stuck, and that's what happened ". The fact remains that he finally finds himself on the first row of the MotoGP starting grid: “ I'm happy, the team really deserved this first line. Me too, we really wanted it. Let's see in the race what it's like to go out without anyone in front of you, to see how it goes ».
On the incident, Alex Marquez commented : " Joan was really upset after qualifying and I understand why. In the first fast lap of the second attempt I was already faster than before and I was very close to him at the finish line. We have a little more power and that's why we reached turn 1 at the same time, but his braking point was earlier than mine, so I had to decide on the overtaking maneuver."
« It was my mistake because I disturbed him in his work“, underlined the former Moto2 world champion. “ If I had braked a little earlier, we both could have improved. I already went to see him and I apologized because it was my mistake. Such things happen and we understand his situation »
It will be recalled that with the package of Marc Marquez, Those are Jack Miller et Johann zarco which Joan mir must have his eye on to defend his third place in the championship. And they are right around him on a grid where we still count four Ducati in the top 5…
MotoGP Portimao-2 J2: Qualifying
Credit classification motogp.com
