Joan Mir's MotoGP career has been anything but ordinary. The 2020 world champion has experienced the full spectrum of highs and lows—from an unexpected title triumph to the depths of self-doubt while riding for a struggling Honda team. In an exclusive interview at Le Mans, Mir opened up about his journey, his aggressive riding style, and what the future holds.
Mir's path to MotoGP glory was swift and surprising. After winning the Moto3 championship in 2017 and a solid sixth-place finish in his sole Moto2 season, the Spaniard joined Suzuki in 2019. That rookie year was forgettable, marred by injury and low-key results. But 2020 changed everything. In a season reshuffled by COVID-19 and marked by Marc Marquez's absence, Mir seized his opportunity and clinched the championship—a feat few saw coming.
Fast forward to 2022, and Suzuki's shock withdrawal from MotoGP sent Mir scrambling. He landed at Honda as Marquez's teammate, stepping into the factory team right as the Japanese manufacturer entered its most challenging period in decades. Now in his fourth season with Honda—and potentially his last—Mir has witnessed the slow, painful recovery process firsthand.
The struggles have taken a toll. During the 2023 season, Mir admits he contemplated walking away from it all. The self-doubt was overwhelming. But he persevered, signed a contract extension, and learned to navigate the storm without losing his competitive fire. That passion, however, has come at a cost. Mir's aggressive riding style has led to a staggering six crashes in just 10 starts this season—counting both sprint races and Sunday grands prix. Add a technical issue in Thailand, and the Jerez race stands as the only main event where he actually saw the checkered flag.
The French Grand Prix was a perfect example of Mir's early-season trend. He was Honda's top performer, running in sixth place, until another crash ended his hopes. It's a frustrating pattern for a rider who knows his pace is there but can't seem to put together a clean weekend.
"As you can imagine, I think we've been quite competitive for the package we actually have," Mir told Motorsport.com France. "But for some reason, we couldn't put the result together. I crashed so much in the first races. We were fighting for the podium, like in Austin..."
The question now is whether Mir can turn things around before 2027, when MotoGP's next major regulation changes could level the playing field. And with his contract expiring, the possibility of a fresh start under new colors looms large. For a rider who has already proven he can win when the stars align, the next chapter could be his most compelling yet.