“Ein riskanter Schritt”: Why Joan Mir wanted to switch to Gresini

– Joan Mir will also compete in MotoGP in the next two years. The Spaniard is moving from the Honda factory team to the Ducati satellite team Gresini for 2027 and 2028.

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“I think that was a step at the right moment,” says the 2020 world champion about his future. “I think the Gresini team is the best option I could have given my current situation. So I am happy about that.”

He is not the first rider to switch to Gresini after a difficult phase in his career. Before him, Alex and Marc Marquez already did so. Both were able to give their careers new momentum and be successful with Gresini.

However, Mir did not talk to his Spanish compatriots about the move: “No. I just looked at the results they achieved there. And every rider who went there.”

“When you go to a satellite team, you give up many things. But it is also a step I wanted to take. Because it is a risky step, as you expose yourself with a competitive package.”

“But it is a risk I want to take,” emphasizes Mir. “I don’t know how many years I will still be in MotoGP. But the fact is, I will be 29 this year. And now I have signed for two more years.”

In recent years, Mir’s frustration over the difficulties at Honda was great. He had reached a point where he was very demotivated. When he heard nothing from the Honda managers in the spring, he began talks with Gresini.

“If I keep pushing like this, crashing almost every week, getting up again, trying again,” he says about his current situation. “On a strange weekend, we can end up on the podium.”

“It’s about what I feel. And I want to be back where I believe I deserve to be. I’m not doing this for the people, because people forget everything very quickly in the end, whether it was good or bad.”

“I’m doing it for myself. If I decide to stop now, in the future, when I’m on the beach, I’ll say: Maybe if I had continued for two more years, I could have achieved a bit more.”

Joan Mir works again with Suzuki crew chief

That is exactly Mir’s current state of mind. He wants to prove with Gresini and a Ducati that he can compete at the front. In addition, he will work again with Frankie Carchedi.

Carchedi was already Mir’s crew chief at Suzuki. The two understand each other perfectly. “Yes, that honestly played an important role in this move,” Mir confirms this personnel decision. “We were very successful in the past.”

“We get along very well. When you change teams, you don’t have much time to understand everything.” This way, Mir can fully concentrate on adapting to the Ducati and has a trusted person by his side.

Marquez brothers have high hopes for Mir at Gresini

Mir will take the place of Alex Marquez, who is moving to the KTM factory team. He believes that Mir is the right successor and that Gresini has made a good choice.

“He will certainly enjoy the atmosphere here at Gresini very much,” says the vice world champion. “I think he will find the best atmosphere to achieve results again.”

“The bike will certainly be very competitive, but especially the team, how everything works here in this box, is amazing.” Gresini is a small family team but has been very successful in recent years.

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The fact that Gresini has now hired a former world champion with Mir also catches Marc Marquez’s attention. The current world champion believes that Mir will be a serious competitor in the future.

“Of course, Joan Mir is a world champion. He is super talented,” praises Marc Marquez. “I train with him in motocross, flat track. He is super talented, but sometimes it depends on personality, it depends on everything.”

“I have the feeling that Joan will do very well because racing is not just about riding a motorcycle. Racing means controlling the moments, controlling the pressure.”

“In a satellite team, you have much less money but also much less pressure. Sometimes that is exactly what you need at this point in your career. It depends.”

“Sometimes you have to move to a factory team because you are ready for it. But a satellite team, and the Gresini team, which I know very well, he will find the right atmosphere to just ride and enjoy it.”

Rookie Daniel Holgado gets a chance

Gresini is restructuring with two riders. Mir’s teammate will be rookie Daniel Holgado. The team has consciously restructured for the restart with the new technical regulations.

“Our focus has always been to have a completely new project,” confirms team manager Michele Masini to MotoGP.com. “That means having a top rider on one side with Joan Mir and a rookie on the other side.”

“We have to understand a new bike with the new tires. And I think that is a mix we are very much looking forward to in order to get the maximum out of it.”

Holgado is moving up from the Moto2 class. Last year he won his first two races. In the current season, he won in Brazil. At mid-season, the Spaniard is fifth in the world championship.

“I think next year is a good moment to move into MotoGP with the new bikes and new tires,” says Holgado. “I know about these tires, and I have a good chance to go into MotoGP.”

Above all, team owner Nadia Padovani is convinced of Holgado and wanted to sign him for the Moto2 team. “I have a great relationship with Nadia,” confirms Holgado.

“A few years ago, I talked to her about moving from Moto3 to Moto2, but in the end, I went to the Aspar team. But I have a great relationship with the team, with Gresini in general.”

“It is very important because my future is clear. I think this is a very important decision for me, but now I am in Moto2 and focused on my goal. My goal is to fight for podiums in my second year.”

“Because when you fight for the podium, you gain good experience for the future because you are with the fastest riders in the class.” Holgado will be one of several rookies next year.

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