Reigning world champion Joan Mir admits that Suzuki’s MotoGP rivals have been “better than us” in recent races after finishing the German Grand Prix in an inappropriate ninth place last weekend.
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Joan Mir, Team Suzuki MotoGP
Suzuki has only taken two podiums in the first eight races of its title defense season, with Mir taking third places in both Portugal and Italy.
The world champion is currently 46 points behind leaders Fabio Quartararo, while teammate Alex Rins is 103 deficit after crashing in four races in 2021 and missing the Catalan GP injured.
I was previously expressing its frustration at the apparent lack of progress by Suzuki with its 2021 GSX-RR over its 2020 motorcycle, with Suzuki currently being the only manufacturer without a rear adjuster that uses on a lap rather than just at start can be.
In ninth place after 17th place in Germany in qualifying, Mir again declared “We have to improve” and says that he has to be on the podium in every race in the second half of the season in order to get his title win back on track.
“It is clear that the rest of the last races are better than us, in Barcelona we made a mistake with the tires, but here we saw that we had to improve,” said Mir after the German GP.
“We’re not badly positioned in the current scenario, but we have to be very consistent in the second half of the season and, like last year, be on the podium in every race.
“I’m sure I’m better than 2020 because I have more experience. If we improve the bike a little, we will definitely be where we want to be.”
Commenting on the missing height adjuster on the rear axle, Mir says it is “free time that we are giving away” and hopes that it will be developed in time for the Austria double title in August.
“Suzuki knows we’re the only ones who don’t have a rear holeshot and that’s free time we’re giving away,” he added.
“We have to catch up with the others and from then on develop like the others.
“In the factory, the Japanese know that the motorcycle has to develop further – I see them motivated and eager to fight for the title again. If we can get through these complicated races due to various factors, there will be better tracks for us.
“But we have to analyze everything well and understand why the bike didn’t work on a track that shouldn’t be as bad as this one.”
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