Joan Mir started the Qatar Grand Prix with a dose of optimism, despite starting from 17th on the grid which immediately threw him into action. His determination allowed him to quickly gain places, pushing his way through the competitors to enter the points zone. During the race, Mir engaged in a close battle with Fabio Quartararo, aiming for the top ten, after briefly crossing swords with Maverick Viñales. As the end of the race approached, Mir attempted a breakaway to move into 11th place, but his attempt to distance himself from Quartararo and Zarco was short-lived.
Arrived 13th, 18,4 seconds from the leader after 21 laps of racing, Joan mir and the Repsol Honda team especially remembered the positive sensations and comfort provided by the RC213V. For Mir, this result represents an encouraging step forward in their quest for continuous improvement, boosting the confidence of the 2020 MotoGP world champion.
« The end of the race was particularly promising for us » comments the 2020 MotoGP World Champion on a Suzuki. “ My start was excellent, allowing me to regain many positions quickly. It's been a long time since I've felt this much fun while driving. Starting from behind is never easy, but we managed to stay in contact with Fabio Quartararo for the majority of the race ».
Joan Mir: “ we are happy with our progress and we continue to learn »
On this duel with the Frenchman on the Yamaha, he mentioned : " in the last laps, I felt capable of surpassing him, which I did by opening a gap. Unfortunately, we lost ground in the final moments, which is not ideal » regrets Joan Mir.
The official Honda mention : " managing to complete a lap in 1'53 and joining the second group was a great achievement. I was able to make a few overtakes and finish with good sensations. Although our place is not ideal, it brings optimism ».
He adds : " Some momentum lost in the first few laps was regained later, allowing us to maintain a consistent pace. I am confident for the future, this should give us the opportunity to realize our potential by fighting for a place in the top ten ". Then he finishes: “ we are happy with our progress and we continue to learn ».
MotoGP Qatar J3: ranking
Championship after Qatar (1/21):
Credit classification motogp.com
