Joan Mir – Honda

Last year was depressing for Joan Mir, his fans and the Repsol Honda team. The 2020 champion missed multiple races due to injury and only finished six Grand Prix races all season after multiple crashes. It was a nightmare, and Mir contemplated retirement. A fear of regretting such a huge decision ultimately put those thoughts to rest.

Hope could be on the horizon as HRC up their game. Marquez is gone and therefore Mir now has the perfect opportunity to lead Honda’s MotoGP project. The bike can be built to suit him, and Marini, rather than just Marquez, and they can go about their business without all the attention a rider like the former world champion brings to the table.

The signs are good. Mir, who will work with Marquez’s former crew chief Santi Hernandez in 2024, was seen smiling at both the Valencia and Sepang tests after trying Honda’s new prototypes. Illness at the Qatar test cost Mir the chance of further improvements.

With hope on the horizon, Mir must get back to his best sooner rather than later. While most accept that the Honda has been an unstable monster for many years, a repeat performance from Mir may see him in the MotoGP wilderness in 2024.

“It may be the most important year of my professional career so far,” Mir said. “If a rider has one bad year that’s not OK, so two in a row is even worse. I want it to work. I will do my best and I think Honda is on the same page so I’m very optimistic.”

With key management changes, concessions, an all-new livery and new optimism, Mir could well spring a surprise or two in 2024. Dorna will hope so, because MotoGP needs all its manufacturers to be competitive.