MotoGP, Mir: “Bagnaia must have cut somewhere, we have to figure out where”

by Mattia Caimi

Joan closed the third row on Saturday in Jerez. A result slightly below the Spanish rider’s expectations, after he fell at the first turn while trying to improve his time and gain some positions on the starting grid.

After a zero, which wasn’t his fault in Portugal, Mir wants to redeem himself. Qualifying is certainly not his strong point, while the Suzuki rider has always managed to come up with something to race for positions that matter, even if he knows that the two riders ahead of him today made a big difference. In the end, Joan had a good FP4, but he struggled more in qualifying.

“Yes, I felt good in the FP4. I did some good laps at 1’37 but, in the afternoon, when the temperature rose, we suffered more. In qualifying, after the first run, I thought I could fight for the second row, even if Pecco must have cut somewhere. We have to figure out what happened. I did my best lap at 1’37”3, and then fell at turn one on the last lap, while I think I was improving by one or two tenths. It was my mistake. I was pushing too much, and I should’ve been more cautious. I could have decreased by one or two tenths without exaggerating, but I was too optimistic today, and I wanted to get something more.”

How do you see the two in front of you?
“Fabio and Pecco are very strong. Especially with the new tire, in the first part of the race. I’ll have to be almost right away and get over it, because our pace is good. This is the strategy we need to implement .”

You had problems with the front tire. Is that tied to the fall at Turn 13 or were you just pushing?
“I probably entered too fast there, and the rear couldn’t help stop the bike. The cause was probably the electronics that were not up to par.”