Joan Mir interview: Crashes, Honda and his future in MotoGP

Motorsport photo Joan Mir has had a unusual journey in MotoGP. Crowned Moto3 champion in 2017 and finishing sixth in his sole Moto2 season the following year, the Spaniard endured a low-key rookie season - marred by injury - at Suzuki in 2019, before clinching an unexpected title the very next year, amidst a season defined by a reshuffled calendar due to COVID-19 and Marc Marquez's injury. In 2022, Suzuki's surprise withdrawal led Mir to become Marquez's team-mate at Honda - right in the midst of the most challenging period for the Japanese manufacturer, a team he has watched slowly begin its recovery in recent years.

He is currently contesting his fourth season with the Japanese giant - and perhaps his last. Honda's struggles have caused Mir immense self-doubt over the last few years, to the point where he even contemplated walking away from it all during the 2023 season. Yet he persevered, extended his contract and learned to navigate these difficult periods without losing his desire to shine or his competitive fire - a passion evident in his commitment during races, where his aggressive riding style has cost him dearly since the start of the season.

The French GP served as a microcosm of this early-season trend: Mir was Honda's top performer, running in sixth place during the race, until he suffered yet another crash. In 10 starts, counting both sprint races and Sunday grands prix, Mir has crashed six times this year. And if one adds a technical issue in Thailand to that tally, the race at Jerez stands as the only time he has actually reached the finish line in a main event.

In an interview with Motorsport. com France at Le Mans, Joan Mir opened up about the current situation at Honda, his personal approach, his on-track aggression, and the prospects of a resurgence in 2027 - perhaps under a new set of colors. Motorsport.