This Sunday, November 14, 2021, Joan mir answered questions from journalists from the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Cheste (Valencia), at the end of the Valencian Community Grand Prix.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the Spanish driver, who could not do better than fourth during the last round contested this season.
As usual, we report here the words of Joan mir without the slightest formatting.
Joan, can you come back to how this last race of the season went?
“I am really very disappointed. We worked very well throughout the weekend and during all the free practice sessions, but in the race I couldn't do anything. I had a lot of problems with the front end, and our grip wasn't great. I had no cards in hand to hope to fight with the guys in front. So it's really frustrating, because that's not at all the position I was aiming for. I fought for the podium even though I wanted so much more. Once again, this is a difficult situation for me to live with.
»
“It’s a difficult situation for me to live in”
You said you encountered problems with the front of your machine, but you still spent a lot of time with the Ducatis in racing. On this occasion, were you able to identify their strong points?
« This morning during the warm up I was able to be much faster, but I was then alone on the track. The thing is, when I was behind them, I lost a lot of my performance. I tried to take first place at the start of the race, but Pecco Bagnaia managed to overtake me. »
« A little later I also tried to overtake Jorge Martín, but then I was overtaken by a Ducati myself and at that moment I understood that the race was over for me. Last year I was able to identify certain weak points on the Ducatis, particularly at the end of the race where they tended to lack grip mid-corner. »
« They also had some problems accelerating once the tires were worn, which makes sense because when you have more power you wear out your rubber more. But if last year they lost performance in the last laps, this year it's the opposite. I have the impression that they are even stronger at the end of the race. »
« This is not something easy to understand. I'm having a lot of trouble this season identifying the slightest weak point in the Ducati, and it's something that worries me. They are able to be fast with different riding styles. So we have our work cut out for us if we want to compete with them next year, because they will be even stronger in 2022. »
“We have our work cut out for us if we want to compete with the Ducati next year”
You said that you had problems with the front tire during the race. Do you think this is linked to the fact of having ridden for most of the race behind the Ducatis, which undoubtedly caused your tires to rise in temperature and pressure?
« This was indeed one of the problems. But I was not alone behind the leading Ducatis. In fact there were other Ducatis behind them. When you are behind a motorcycle, the front tire tends to heat up, which can be a source of problems. But the other Ducatis who rode with me didn't have these problems, and that's something I don't understand. »
« It's really difficult, and I must say that we really have a lot of work because it's very curious because if you look at the duration of this race, and you compare them to those of the other events, notably in Valencia during of the first round which took place here Last year, the year I won, the pace was about 25 seconds slower. »
« Then during the second test, with more information, experience and grip due to the scrubbing of the track, Franco Morbidelli won ahead of Jack Miller, and the duration of the test was 41' 22 [compared to 41'15 this year, while the first round contested in Valencia in 2020 lasted 41'37, editor's note]. The Ducati, for their part, managed to be no less than 15 seconds faster in the race this year. So it's a huge progression that they've made, when you think about it. So we have to work hard to get up to speed. »
Can we also say that the fact that your front tire rises in temperature and pressure is linked to your more aggressive corner entries. You actually tend to attack more in this sector in order to compensate for the power deficit you have compared to the Ducatis in a straight line...
« During this race I lost a lot of time at the rope points. I often found myself blocking the front of the bike. Ultimately the choice that faced me during this race was falling or finishing fourth, which is not great. I almost fell several times. »
« This is really a frustrating situation for me. On the other hand I am very happy with the progress that has been made by Suzuki, because my feelings are good. It's something that is verified on paper and that is felt in the garage. I believe in our project, and we will fight during the upcoming tests. »
“I had the choice between falling and finishing fourth, which is not great”
You haven't won a single race this season. Is this something that stands out to you at Suzuki? You were World Champion but you failed to score a single victory, which is quite unusual. How confident can you be about next year when you know that the Ducatis will still perform very well, if not more than this season?
« This is a difficult question that comes at a difficult time. I don't have much to say in response to that. It's true that I didn't win this year, but I nonetheless exploited 100% of the bike's potential. Deep down I'm very disappointed but I can at least sleep soundly tonight, as was the case throughout the entire season. »
« I couldn't really do better. You can say whatever you want about me: if someone says that they believe in me, that's fine, and if they say that this year I made the worst title defense than a driver can do, I accept that too. But to fully understand the current situation you have to experience things from the inside. »
“Deep down I am very disappointed but I can sleep soundly”
One of the most important aspects of this sport is the technical aspect of the motorcycle. On this side it must also be hard for Suzuki to take not having managed to achieve the slightest victory this season…
« It's true that it's also difficult for them, especially since in me they had a driver capable of winning races. I put a lot of pressure on myself. But I think that the situation we experienced this year can only strengthen us for the future, because this year we achieved a lot. »
« Suzuki realized that it was not enough to do your best to stay in the lead, but much more. This goes for both the drivers and everyone within the team. I think that's the biggest lesson for me and the team this season. »
“What we experienced this year can only strengthen us for the future”
When you say that you have not been able to identify the slightest weak point in the Ducati, are you referring only to the bike or to the overall bike + rider package?
« I am of course talking about the bike + rider combination, because Ducati riders are of course exceptional, there is no doubt about that. »
You just said that giving 100% wasn't enough. However, the next tests, which will take place these days in Jerez, will be very important. What do you think will be the best approach for you and Suzuki to adopt to approach the 2022 season in the best conditions?
« The most important thing during the upcoming tests will not be to be the fastest, but to collect as much information as possible, and to cover as many laps as possible. Suzuki will also be able to count on its two test drivers, who will also have quite a few things to test. Many elements are in fact planned in the program, and we will work in almost all areas. »
« I think we have a good margin of improvement compared to this year. We will focus on the chassis, on the aerodynamics, but also on the engine because the latter will no longer be frozen. Collecting all this information and providing the right technical feedback to our engineers will be very important and the key to success for next year. »
