Joan Mir expressed deep frustration after his difficult performance at the British Grand Prix Sprint race held at Silverstone, where he struggled with the Honda bike’s unexpected issues. The Spanish rider from Palma de Mallorca struggled to understand the sudden drop in performance, highlighting his ongoing difficulties with his Honda machine during the weekend.
Unexplained Drop in Race Pace After Promising Qualifying
Although Mir was close to reaching Q2 in qualifying, missing it by just half a tenth, his optimism for the race faded quickly. He explained that his strong pace in practice sessions gave him confidence, but the Sprint race showed a puzzling decline. He said,
It was very tough. You cannot imagine. I honestly, I’m coming here because I have to, but I don’t want today to speak so much.
—Joan Mir, MotoGP Rider
Mir added that while the morning sessions showed promising speed, with consistent lap times under two minutes on the front tyre, the afternoon race revealed a loss of pace that he could not explain.
This morning, with a 20-lap front tyre, I was doing 1:59s without any problem, and this afternoon I could not get into the 2:00s with mediums. So there’s something more there, we have to understand.
—Joan Mir, MotoGP Rider
Recurring Technical Problems Hinder Performance
Joan Mir revealed that some persistent technical issues reappeared during the weekend despite seeming improvements earlier in the season. He emphasized the struggle to maintain grip and control, which significantly affected his performance. He remarked,
I started to have, again, a lot of problems that we usually have, but this weekend I didn’t complain so much. And then, just nothing. I hope the team can give me the explanation I deserve after pushing and trying everything to move on.
—Joan Mir, MotoGP Rider
When questioned about the root cause, Mir pointed to a chatter problem linked to low grip levels on the front tyre, especially on the right side. Being an aggressive rider demanding a lot from the front end appeared to worsen the situation. He explained,
Yeah, it’s a chatter problem, but this always comes when the grip level is very low. It’s true that the soft front was a challenge for everyone, especially on the right side. In my case, being an aggressive rider on the front and demanding a lot, this doesn’t help.
—Joan Mir, MotoGP Rider
Uncertainty Clouds Future Honda Performance
Joan Mir’s struggles at Silverstone highlight the continued challenges Honda faces with bike performance at key stages in the MotoGP season. Despite close qualifying times and promising session pace, the unexplained drop during the Sprint race underscores the unpredictability affecting Mir and his team. His frustration reflects deeper technical issues that remain unresolved and present a significant obstacle as the season progresses.
Moving forward, Mir’s hope lies in the team providing clear explanations for these setbacks so they can develop solutions. Understanding the precise causes behind the loss of performance will be critical if Mir is to regain his competitiveness in upcoming races, particularly given his determination and commitment throughout the season. The outcome of these efforts could shape the effectiveness of Honda’s challenge in the remaining events of the championship.
