Joan Mir, MotoGP World Champion. The highest level of motorcycling possible, there is nothing above. Even if we can debate the nature of his coronation, he did indeed win a title in the premier category, barely three years ago. In 2023, he records what looks like the worst season of an official rider in the history of motorcycle Grands Prix, even “beating” the 2022 exercise of Franco Morbidelli. From then on, serious questions arise, almost by themselves. Including the one posed by the title of this article: is he not missing out on his career in MotoGP?
The situation is catastrophic
We must understand that this is unheard of. However, since 2002 and the introduction of four-strokes in Grands Prix, we have seen quite a few factory drivers flounder. We think of a difficult year 2006 Sete Gibernau at Ducati, or even, more recently, to what had been proposed Jorge Lorenzo at HRC in 2019. Come on, for the wisest among you, the comparison is with the 2003 financial year ofAndrew Pitt on Kawasaki… But at least he finished the races.
The situation is not only nightmarish, but also unprecedented. It's beyond measure. Nothing is going well, there is not a single positive wave emanating from this signature. First of all, we must remember that she was not the most inspired. After his 2021 season (undoubtedly his best in the premier category), Mir fell considerably in the hierarchy as soon as Suzuki announced his withdrawal a third of the way through the 2022 season. There is no doubt that his serious injury from last year is still working against him, but that is part of the sport. Before this one, he had already accumulated six retirements in barely thirteen races, which is not insignificant.
Then came the start of the year and the first fall, during the Sprint in Portugal. In the race, however, he finished 11th, its only arrival on Sunday in 2023! This was more than four months ago. Injured during the Argentinian Sprint, he was absent, then returned for three consecutive Grands Prix, and was injured again at Mugello. Silverstone marked its big return to business, in total indifference. He has not scored a point since Portimão, and has five in ten starts. He is dead last in the general classification if we only count the starting drivers, but is also behind replacements and other wild cards, notably Lorenzo Savadori, Danilo Petrucci et Jonas Folger. Pol Espargaró, also back at Silverstone, has already recorded four points. His best result in qualifying is 13th position., acquired in the USA.
You will have understood, the situation is serious.
What should be done ?
Leave as quickly as possible. This is the first time, in quite a few years of Grand Prix racing, that we are faced with such a situation, where the only viable outcome seems to be flight. Obviously, Honda is at the bottom of the hole, and we cannot omit this parameter when we approach the case of Joan Mir. The others are also struggling, starting with Marc Márquez. However, we can't help but remember the few good performances of Álex Rins, not even mentioning his victory in Austin.
🇬🇧🎙: "It has not been a good Sunday. The start has been regular and the behavior of the bike has not been the best, especially in the braking, which has led to go out and crash, without consequences. It is time to analyze everything and keep pushing "
#mir36 #repsolhondateam pic.twitter.com/Kxo5JuHi2o- JoanMir36 (@JoanMirOfficial) August 6, 2023
Joan Mir is only 25 years old, and what more can he expect from Honda? That the RC213V becomes a competitive machine again, capable of upsetting Ducati and KTM? It will take years, and will primarily benefit Marc Márquez while he is there. Even though he is talented, Mir is not the one who will be able to take the winged brand to another dimension, he did not succeed with Suzuki.
Should he continue to waste his youth riding a slow, and what's more, very dangerous motorcycle? Remember that our thief has been injured quite often since his arrival in MotoGP. From 2019, he had to miss races, a situation he experienced again in 2022. This season, he was absent twice, and his confidence disintegrates with each start, that's a certainty.
If we trust his words, he is without solutions, totally lost on the handlebars. Joan undergoes her mechanics, and her level necessarily suffers while the others progress. If he wants to continue in MotoGP for many years to come, he absolutely must leave, as quickly as possible, exactly like his former teammate.
At this stage, staying at Honda means burying yourself. On the other side of the spectrum, we think that Joan Mir is not the one who can restart the machine either, clearly. The Spaniard looks quite dejected even though he only played five weekends on board. Normally, at least one handlebar should become free at Gresini Ducati, which would be a perfect opportunity to relaunch, but it still has to be good enough in view of the competition. Or he can already look towards the WSBK.
You will have understood, we are very pessimistic about its future. We sincerely hope that we are wrong, but this is the first time that we cannot see how a driver could recover. Franco Morbidelli gave a bit of this impression but the situation was initially less desolate. Here, there is nothing to hold on to, not a feat of arms, not a remarkable feat, not an image to stand out. Getting back up will be very difficult, and let's hope Joan is strong enough to face the biggest challenge of her career, and perhaps her life.
What do you think ? Do you see any glimmer of hope regarding the 2020 MotoGP world champion? Tell us in the comments!
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport