I was the first world champion to start his title defense season without a podium since Nicky Hayden in 2007, when Johann Zarco and Francesco Bagnaia cruelly robbed him of second place while fleeing the finish line.
The Suzuki driver finally made it onto the podium in Portugal in third place, but was only able to follow in fifth place at the Spanish GP last weekend in Jerez.
Nevertheless, Mir is only 17 points behind the new World Cup leader Bagnaia in fourth place in the overall standings and believes he can get the maximum result at the moment.
“I’m not worried about the title at all because I don’t look at the overall standings [points]”, told me.
“Now I give 100% in every race and get maximum points every Sunday. We see drivers who are stronger than us.
“I had expected such a start to the season, even more difficult.
“Last year I won the world championship and was much slower here in Jerez, it cost me a lot more.
“In Qatar I fought for the podium, in Portimao we were on the podium, I think I’m having a good season … what are we expected to win?
Joan Mir, Team Suzuki MotoGP
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“I think we are fine, the goal is to give 100% in every race and in this one it was the maximum to be fifth.”
Tell me that his race at Jerez was compromised by the Suzuki’s lack of top speed, which meant that he struggled to break the “wall” of faster drivers before braking and believed that race winner Jack Miller did not have superior pace would have.
“Well, something happened here in Jerez, I think it happened to each of us, but probably with the Yamaha and Suzuki [it] happens more because we probably don’t have the power to overtake, ”he explained.
“Then when you stop the bike behind the others, it is as if they were a wall.
“If you’re half a second behind some riders, there is a wall where you can’t stop the bike, you overheat the front and then it’s like you have more, but you can’t [use it].
“It’s a bit frustrating, but it’s not the first time here in Jerez that this has happened, especially in the hot temperatures, you see more of these problems. I think I’m not the only one with this problem.
“We have to improve qualifying because I am 100% sure that I could significantly improve my time per lap if I have no one in front of me.
“Jack [Miller] probably didn’t have a better pace than us. He beat us by being super smart. “