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The 2024 season Joan Mir concluded in twenty-first position with just 21 points thanks to a Honda that was miles away from the form of yesteryear, but in his mind the memories of 2020, the year in which he secured the MotoGP title aboard a Suzuki, have never abandoned him.
At that time, there was still Valentino Rossi in the group, in a downward phase, but still emblazoned, to whom the Spaniard spared nothing, even depriving him of a podium in the Misano GP, the Doctor's last real positive performance in the top class.
"It was really a key point in my career. I was in eighth position for half the race, then I started to lap hard and catch up with the group of the leaders, composed of Bagnaia, Morbidelli and Vale - he told MowMag - I made several overtakes, which is not easy on that circuit. In the closing stages I was fourth and had the Italian in my sights."
"Inside I had a confidence that made me think I could overtake anyone," continued his account, "It was a nice, clean maneuver, in my style. From there started a crucial streak of six podiums in seven events. It was definitely a special moment that I think he also dreams about because it could have been his last top 3 with the Academy guys. Would it have been his 200th podium finish? Man, that was something. It was nice for me, though."
The electric-blue machine has been the bike of the Spaniard's heart, and certainly moving to the RC213 V was no picnic. "My style was effective for the Suzuki and those I raced with in the other categories. With the Honda I had to adapt, however this is of little use when you have no grip at the rear, you always slide and on the exit you see that others are going twice as fast as you. For example, with the GSX-RR I used to control the throttle very well, I could manage the spin and I kept the tires better than the others and that allowed me to come back up. Now I can't do that anymore because the tires wear out right away because of the wheelspin," he confided.
