While studying the options remaining to continue on the MotoGP grid in 2023, Joan Mir said he is still waiting for Suzuki's position on leaving the category beyond the one sent to the press
The announcement of Suzuki's exit at the end of the 2022 MotoGP season took everyone by surprise, including the rider duo, Álex Rins and Joan Mir. The 2020 champion even said that he is waiting until today for an explanation from the Japanese factory, revealing that the only position received so far was the official statement issued to the press.
Suzuki made its withdrawal from MotoGP official on May 12, citing problems arising from the financial crisis. Mir, who had already said he would continue with the factory team in 2023, is now studying the possible options, but admitted that the scenario of uncertainty is not easy to deal with.
"It's a difficult situation. I said that from the first moment, it continues to be and will be until the last race, this uncertainty of people not knowing where they are going," Mir said. "We haven't received any explanation from Suzuki, only the statement that everyone has read. I'm still waiting for an explanation," stressed the Spaniard.
Before Friday's free practice in Germany, the still Suzuki rider tried to dodge questions about his future in every way. Teammate Rins, for example, recently revealed that he was probed by KTM before the Austrian team announced the signing of Jack Miller. Ducati was another that also expressed interest.
Mir, for his part, said that "everything about his future is the same as it was at the last race, and the one before that," and that this is not a decision that will be made quickly, in "two or three races." "The driver's career is analyzed, I believe. Of course, achieving good results in the last few races always helps, but what is taken into account the most is the trajectory, more than if there were problems in the last stages," he assessed.
The world champion stamp is an attraction, in Mir's opinion, and he believes he is the same rider as when he won MotoGP in 2020, even though he has faced some problems with the Suzuki in recent races. "Now I go through that situation, of finishing between fourth and sixth place, but I know that's not my real position [in terms of performance] and I don't think anyone thinks that way."
"I know my virtues as a rider and the way I like to ride the bike. My first year on Suzuki was difficult because it didn't marry my style, but then it got better, I adapted to the bike, and things went well. This taught me that even if the bike doesn't suit your style, you can be fast with it. I think that with good work you can be fast on other bikes as well," he continued.
About the future, Mir was asked about the possibility of racing for Honda, but he believes he would have more work to adapt to the Japanese bike, considering his type of riding. "With a V4 engine? I don't know, I don't know ... let's see," he said.
"I don't know which bike adapts better to my style, but Honda... no, the Honda No. Yamaha and Suzuki were never my style, but when I arrived in MotoGP, I thought it wouldn't work with that kind of bike, and I've been doing well," Mir concluded.