Honda is not experiencing its best moment and the home race could have represented an extra motivation to be able to extract something more from an RC213V that seems indomitable and still has a lot of difficulty in getting close to the group in front. Joan Mir had managed to find an excellent starting point at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix and had managed to place himself just outside the top 10 when his race ended suddenly.
In the jungle of the start, the Majorcan was hit by Alex Marquez, with both ending up on the ground. Fortunately neither of the two drivers suffered any consequences, but the final result was not as hoped. The Honda rider, despite himself, saw himself in the gravel and the episode was immediately investigated by the Race Direction, who only at the end of the grand prix decided to sanction the Gresini rider with a Long Lap Penalty.
“I’m angry, because we made a good start and I was able to recover several positions. I think I was 12th or so. But at turn 11, Alex went wide, I passed and when he entered turn 12 he arrived like a missile, without thinking of anything. It’s not the first time that it happens to him and that he finds himself in the middle of these situations with other drivers”, thundered Joan Mir speaking to the press about his race which ended after just a few corners.
When the Honda rider had his meeting with the media, the Race Direction had not yet expressed its opinion on the outcome of the investigation and this annoyed the Majorcan even more, who also lashed out at those called upon to make the decisions : “I think we need to think a little more about bikes like these. It’s not fair at all, let’s see what the Race Direction says, which hasn’t yet expressed its opinion. Miraculously I didn’t get hurt! I’m also waiting for an apology because Alex hasn’t spoken yet either. It seems like ruining other people’s races is free.”
“Obviously no one wants to hit anyone,” Mir said, trying to calm his soul and reduce his anger. “But sometimes we riders have to think about what we do, because it didn’t go well for him or me. Due to his mismanagement, the race was ruined for me too. So now the one who should be most angry is me. It’s not a racing accident. When you have a rider in front and you hit him for no reason… The Race Direction is perhaps asleep, I don’t know what they’re looking at. This is annoying,” he concluded.
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