While everyone's eyes at the end of the weekend were on Marc Marquez and his conquest of the ninth world title, a circle that closes in the Spaniard's life, today another circle also closed for another Spanish rider: Joan Mir. A circle that although smaller in the media certainly has its own value. His podium today, after the pole missed by a whisker only yesterday, tells not only of the steps forward for Honda, but also of a step in the career of a rider whose success in the past has perhaps been less appreciated than that of other riders.
So Joan Mir does not hide in admitting that yes, there have been times when criticism, often harsh, has generated doubts that added to the difficulties: "those who do not live this world do not evaluate things for what they are, sometimes it's easy to hide behind a phone," the Spaniard vented. But more than frustration, the Spaniard's words exude awareness, the certainty that with the right cards the Honda champion can still have his say, and he proved it this weekend, sharing the podium ironically with that very Marc Marquez who in Honda has built a good part of his career.
This is your first podium with Honda.
"I think it's difficult for me to express what I feel," Joan Mir began, "it's been a long and complicated journey to get to this result. Much more difficult than I expected. It makes me think of when I decided to come to Honda in 2022, when no one was looking for this manufacturer, the biggest in the world. It was a long, tiring journey with a lot of work and a lot of doubts. Finally we managed to end a weekend like this, fighting for the pole, in the sprint and for the podium. It's great, I can't ask for more. We've made steps forward from the beginning of the season, and my potential now is different from what I had at the beginning of the season. I just need some luck to put together a result. So I thank those who made it possible and those who never often believed in it."
In these difficult years, have you ever felt disrespected despite winning a world title?
"Yes," admits the Spaniard, "I think that for people and in sports in general, you are only what you achieve in the last race (Bagnaia beside him nods), but it is not a problem related only to me, I think everyone has the same problem. In the end it's easy to hide behind a cell phone and talk about things that benefit no one. However, I know what I have conquered and I know that people who know this world evaluate things as they are. I am not the one who says that today everything is magnificent and yesterday was a disaster, but for that matter I also know that as we are exposed to the positive and beautiful side of this sport, we are also exposed to criticism, and sometimes it is difficult even if it has never changed my life."
Today Marc closed a circle by winning the title after a period in which he suffered. You were the first to congratulate him but you also came from a difficult situation.
"I don't think you can make a comparison, but it is true that I also closed a circle in my racing career and in my life. It's the first podium, coming in this way and after so many crashes, and I'm proud to be part of this weekend where Marc closed a much bigger circle, it was a historic podium."
At Rossi's retirement you said it was like Micheal Jordan leaving motorcycles. What does Marc make you think of?
"What Marc has achieved today has incredible value. For what he went through, for the injury, for leaving his home in Honda to go to another factory, for going to a satellite team."
After this result, what does the future hold?
"This podium is a confidence boost for us, for Honda, for me especially. Before fighting for nothing mentally was complicated to manage, now at least I know that with a good result we can fight for that podium. These are the results that are valuable to me."