On Thursday last week in Catalunya, Joan Mir shared information in a media scrum that he would start using an engine with a new configuration in his innards at his home race. However, for the time being he has not used the new aerobody package as has been homologated by Johann Zarco there. Joan Mir generally said that the new engine and new aero were a good direction signal, although in general they had no impact on the Honda racer’s future vision in 2025.
“This hasn’t changed at all. As a racer you always provide good information, you give 100% and you always want the best because the season is long and even small things can change our lives completely. So, up to now, it is very difficult to say what I want to do in the future. I do not know,
“It’s very complicated to say whether you want to stay or not when you don’t see the show. I’ve been here for a year and we are in the same situation as last year, even a little worse in terms of bike performance.
“However, the most important thing for me now is to understand when we will be competitive. When can we perform well again and when can we get closer to the leadership. Once I understand it, I will be able to decide and understand more, because now I don’t know if I can do another year or two like this. It will be very difficult.” After that, paddock rumors about Joan Mir circulated in Catalunya which suggested that Mir would move to Trackhouse Racing in 2025.
This straightforward statement without further ado immediately received a response from HRC and this time it was team manager Alberto Puig who spoke on DAZN Spain’s microphone. “Marini has a two-year contract, so he is bound. Nakagami, we’ll see. Let’s say he is basically a project decided by Japan, whereas with Joan we signed a two-year contract last year that ends this year. And we’ll have to see how things go,
“I could tell, from what he said, he didn’t know what to do. Let’s wait and see how the situation develops, because ultimately there are several riders in the paddock, who may have a choice, so we have to be alert.
“We don’t talk to anyone, we still think Joan is a very fast rider, he is a two-time World Champion. I always think that judging a rider when the bike is not competitive is a mistake. When it’s not 100% like we are now, or Yamaha, I mean, even Quartararo is a great rider and he can’t do anything to improve the bike a little and see Joan’s true potential.”
Continuing, Puig concluded by discussing Mir’s claim at Le Mans that ‘no rider leaves Honda better than when they arrived’, Puig added, “It could be so, but they also come of their own accord and when you decide to do something, You know what it is, and you accept the consequences. Honda never forces anyone to come or go. Those who want to go will go, as we have seen, and those who want to come will come.”
