Joan Mir, who won the 2020 MotoGP title in Valencia last weekend, suffered his worst weekend of the year in the Portimao final.
After an electronics problem, the Suzuki star only qualified for 20th place and immediately tackled the race. He faced Francesco Bagnaia as he fought his way up to twelfth place on the first lap and then hit Johann Zarco’s back again on twist 3 bobby pins.
Not the start the world champion was looking for!
After a good start, @JoanMirOfficial is back in 17th place! #PortugueseGP pic.twitter.com/kIIFkTtmjS
– MotoGP (@MotoGP) November 22, 2020
“I felt it, it was a very slow corner and I didn’t know which driver it was,” said Zarco, who finished tenth. “I think luckily he braked pretty well because the contact was there, but quite soft because he only picked up my bike a little but didn’t bother me too much.”
Bagnaia had also remained upright, but then had to pull back with pain in her arm. Meanwhile, Mir’s traction control system was damaged in one of the incidents, and as the problem worsened he finally called it a medium-distance day when he was in 19th place.
“It was an unlucky day. I felt really good on the first few laps. The adrenaline made it easy for me to overtake and it was fun,” said Mir. “Then I have to apologize to Pecco for being really aggressive in that part, a little too much.
On the subject of matching items
“Sometimes I criticize this kind of maneuver and I wasn’t dirty, but it wasn’t the best maneuver. I’m sorry. And then, because of that touch – I didn’t when it was at Zarco where I also touched the front or with Pecco – it kind of affects the electronics of the bike.
“We don’t know why, but I didn’t have traction control. I had traction control in some parts, not in some parts. It was really dangerous because I didn’t know [what would happen] and I had some great moments during the race. As the tire was used it got worse and worse and I had to pull out.
“It was a shame to end the season like this, but it is what it is.”
The third DNF of the season for Mir, who said the traction control problem was not the same as the electronic problem he had on Saturday, meant he ended the year with a 13-point advantage over Petronas Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli .
On the subject of matching items
Mir’s problems in connection with a bad race for teammate Alex Rins (15th) meant that Suzuki dropped to third place in the constructors’ title behind Ducati and Yamaha.
“This season has been the best I’ve ever had. Joan and Alex did an amazing job,” said Shinzu Sahara, project manager at Suzuki. “We had hoped to get the ‘triple crown’ and second place in the overall standings for Alex, but unfortunately.” This was not possible today after a difficult race. However, this means that we have a really big and exciting goal for the next year. Thank you to the entire Suzuki family who are in the factory and on the track. Everyone worked very hard to get us to this point. “