Joan Mir delivered his first Honda podium last weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix, ending a challenging period marked by skepticism and underperformance. The former world champion finished third at Motegi, trailing factory Ducati riders Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez in a race that marked his return to the podium after more than 1,400 days. This achievement stands as a significant milestone amid doubts about his form since joining Honda.
Overcoming Criticism Following His 2020 Championship
Mir’s 2020 MotoGP title, earned through consistent performance, faced harsh criticism, with some suggesting his success owed more to luck or weak competition rather than skill. After Suzuki’s exit from MotoGP at the end of 2022, Mir teamed up with Marc Marquez at Honda but struggled to extract results from the RC213V machine. His first two seasons with Honda included only one top-10 finish, intensifying pressures and doubts about his abilities.
Progress Made as Honda Improves Its Motorcycle
This season, Honda’s efforts to rebuild the RC213V have borne fruit, which coincided with Mir’s improved performance. He secured a front row starting position in qualifying at Motegi before claiming third place on race day. This result came after a rough start to the year, where Mir retired from 10 of the first 16 races but showed increasing competitiveness as the bike improved.
Mir Addresses Harsh Critics and the Pressure of Competition
When asked about the lack of respect from some corners despite his status as a former world champion, Mir acknowledged the persistence of criticism but remained grounded in his achievements. Reflecting on the nature of sports criticism, he said,
“In sport in general, you are what you did in your last race, but [that is] not particularly [the case] with me. I think everyone has the same problem,”
Joan Mir, Honda HRC. He added,
“It’s very easy to hide behind the phone and to speak shit that doesn’t give any benefit to anyone. But in the end, I know what I achieved.”
Joan Mir, Honda HRC.
Mir further elaborated on the pressures faced by athletes, stating,
“I cannot do much more. I think we are exposed to all these people, which is fantastic for one part, but on the other [hand] we are also exposed to critics and to haters. This is not changing my life. It has never changed anything.”
Joan Mir, Honda HRC.
Struggles Mark Early Honda Tenure
Joan Mir’s adaptation to Honda’s environment has been difficult. In 2023, he finished last among the premier class riders, with only 26 points compared to Marquez’s 96. The previous year saw Mir finish 21st in the championship, outpacing Luca Marini but trailing LCR riders Johann Zarco and Takaaki Nakagami. These results weighed heavily on him, even leading him to consider quitting MotoGP before deciding on a new two-year deal with Honda, which extends through the current rules cycle.
Persistence Pays Off with a Podium in Japan
Mir admitted he did not expect his challenges with Honda to persist for so long but praised Honda’s relentless development work on the RC213V. The podium finish at Motegi was a tangible reward for both Mir and the team. He shared his emotions on the achievement, saying,
“The reality is that it has been a very difficult period for me,”
Joan Mir, Honda HRC. He continued,
“From the day we decided to move to Honda in a difficult period, we already knew that we could be without good results for a long time. But I could not imagine this amount of time. The reality is that it has been a super difficult period. I just never gave up, trying – not always but sometimes – to see the positive things that were happening to us.”
Joan Mir, Honda HRC.
On the race experience, Mir said,
“Now, you can imagine how nice the taste of the podium is. I just enjoyed every lap of this race, fighting with these guys. It was a long time that I was not doing it [fight at the front]. Just super happy for the team, they deserve a lot. Also, here in Japan, I cannot think of a better place to do our comeback. Just super happy for Honda. Thank you to them, they deserve it.”
Joan Mir, Honda HRC.
The Significance of Mir’s Podium for Honda’s Revival
Mir’s podium finish symbolizes Honda’s gradual recovery in MotoGP, reflecting the success of its ongoing development efforts on the RC213V. It also marks a turning point for Mir, who can now build on this momentum and silence detractors who have questioned his world champion credentials. Looking ahead, the improved competitiveness of both rider and machine suggests a promising trajectory for Mir and the team in the remaining races of the season and beyond.
