After his podium at Le Mans, Joan Mir’s portfolio increases. The current Moto3 champion, who moved to the middle class this season with the Marc VDS team and the Kalex, finished the French race in third place, just 4 seconds ahead of the winner Bagnaia.
Joan is growing in speed and experience, but also physically: his physique is now better suited to a powerful 250hp, 1000cc bike, and as we said recently, several manufacturers – starting with Suzuki – and teams in the reigning class of hers have him Radar, which means this could be his first and last year in Moto2.
Especially if I feel comfortable with my bike like today: “Yes, I want to go to MotoGP. I’m not particularly keen on winning the Moto2 title, I would prefer to move to the top tier. If I feel fast and in good shape like at Le Mans, I want to switch to the reigning class. There are still some great spots available and as a 2017 Moto3 champion it wouldn’t be bad to switch to MotoGP in just two years. At the moment I have no preference for the bike, I’ll work with my manager to see which option is best for everyone. “
Joan’s manager Paco Sanchez confirms his wish to switch to MotoGP in 2019: “I think I’m ready for the big jump, although I would prefer him to stay in Moto2 for another season. There is one problem though, next year there will be a lot of changes in the mid-range, from the three-cylinder Triumph engine to the new frame to a new driving style. I think it would be a waste of time to stay in Moto2, also because when a rider is fast he is usually fast from the start. So it is better to study MotoGP for a year than to take the risk of “stalling” in the intermediate class. People say not to rush to keep calm, but once he’s in MotoGP, Joan has to learn everything about how to ride such a complicated bike and push it to its limits, the secrets of each route. But I feel positive, I think he can do well in the top class too. “
What does Honda say? Is it true that you already have a preliminary contract with them?
“I can’t say, but I can say that I and the driver prefer to take the step with Honda, but we’re also talking to Ducati and Suzuki. These are the manufacturers that are at the top of our list and I hope to reach an agreement as soon as possible. “