– Joan Mir left Austin empty-handed, but still with a clear message. The Spaniard showed at the Circuit of the Americas that he and Honda are closer to the top of MotoGP than the results suggest.
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However, two crashes prevented a tangible result. While he went down on the last lap of the sprint race while on course for a podium, the main race also ended prematurely, this time after just five laps in sixth place.
After the sprint, an offensive attitude still dominated for Mir despite the late retirement. “I have zero regrets because in this situation I had the opportunity to fight for the podium with our bike,” the Honda rider emphasized. He had to take this chance: “If I don’t try, it will be hard to go to bed at night knowing that I could have given even more.”
Mir: “I have the potential for the podium”
Mir admitted that he should have been “perhaps a little more patient” in that situation. “But on the other hand, I would do it exactly the same way again.”
For him, that is the heart of the matter: “If we continue to work as we are now, we will be there one day.” Because according to his confident assessment, Honda is very close to the podium. “I have the potential to do it,” said Mir.
Photos: Joan Mir, MotoGP: United States Grand Prix (Austin) 2026
When asked how his late crash happened, the Spaniard explained: “I opened the line a bit wider than I should have to prepare the exit, and at that moment I lost the front.” For him, it was unexpected.
But at the same time, he put it into perspective: “When you get 150 percent out of your package, you’re riding more on the limit than the others. Then things like that can happen.”
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Why Mir has to risk more and crashes
And so Sunday’s Grand Prix also ended in a crash for Mir. “A disappointing end to this weekend,” he summarized. Because in both the sprint and the Grand Prix, he saw himself in a promising position where he could attack and get as much out of it as possible.
A central theme for him remains the rear end. “We need to improve the rear to be able to ride more relaxed at the front. I will do my best to help the team with that.” For Mir, it’s clear: “If we don’t improve there, it will be difficult to fight with them if I don’t take these risks.”
The Honda rider sees another problem area in direct duels on the track. “When I ride alone, I’m able to ride very fast and quite safely,” he explained.
But in the pack, the situation changes drastically: “When I follow others, it’s difficult to stop the bike in the same way with the slipstream and the aero. This results in a compulsion to take risks: “If I have to catch up, I have to take twice as much risk. That increases our chances of ending up on the ground.”
At the moment, the current Honda package is still limiting him. However, the Spaniard does not want to change his approach because of this. “I see racing as an opportunity. I like to start a race with the feeling that I have a chance. I’m not one of those who enjoy this just to be there.” Rather, he is concerned with bigger goals: “I enjoy it when I have the opportunity to fight for something.”
In his case, this “causes many crashes.” Nevertheless, Mir, who still has an empty points account, reaffirmed after his another zero-point round: “Here in Austin, I had to try. I have zero regrets.” He also receives support internally: “I think the team supports me in this regard.”
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