Yesterday, reigning world champion Joan Mir took part in a testing session in Barcelona on a production motorcycle in the company of a good third of the MotoGP grid and a few Moto2 and Moto3 riders.
The Suzuki rider obviously used the magnificent GSX-R that he had revealed on social networks and declared himself all the more satisfied with his day as he was able to try the layout of the new turn #10.
Joan mir : " I feel good on the bike. I'm happy because I was able to do a lot of laps today and try the new corner. It was important to understand how to take it and find the right trajectory to get a feel for it when we come back later with MotoGP. A productive day: I'm happy with it and I'm ready for Qatar. I prepare the same way as before: I train hard and try to be in good shape, working every day on what I want. To be a better pilot, to be more complete. I'm happy with the pre-season we're having! »
Unlike his teammate Alex Rins who had decided this winter to tour numerous Spanish and Portuguese circuits, seeing the Majorcan ride on a Grand Prix circuit remains quite rare, and he explained why.
« If you check my Instagram or my social media, I don't like to show my workout much. I show what I want. I have the GSX-R, and it's really beautiful, you can trust me! I definitely do a few laps. Not much, because I think it's probably not the best training you can do, because it's a completely different bike, but for sure I do a few hours with this bike, at least twice before the season. It's like that. »
However, the one who will keep the number 36 does not fear his teammate any more than during last season: For him, the difference will be made more on the errors than on an increase in his competitiveness or the winter training on asphalt that he has started last week on the tight route of Mallorca…
" No, I think he will just be as strong as last season. He was injured in the first part of the season, but it's true that he was more and more competitive. We were fighting with each other at every Grand Prix. He ended up finishing third, but I think everyone made mistakes. We'll see what happens next season, because it's probably not easy to go through the whole season without making a mistake. Injuries, falls, it's always part of our job, and we have to handle it in the best way possible. And I think Álex did a good job in this regard. He will certainly be competitive, but not more competitive, because he was already very strong. »
As a reminder, Alex Rins was logically the number 1 rider at Suzuki at the start of the 2020 season and will certainly be keen to take his revenge this year…
