The Suzuki rider was circulating seventh on the last lap of the MotoGP race of the Grand Prix of the Americas, when he forced a maneuver to overtake Jack Miller, who was sixth, touching both riders, which Enea Bastianini took advantage of to place sixth, ahead Joan Mir and the Australian, who crossed the finish line eighth.
After opening an investigation, Race Direction determined that the maneuver was irresponsible and sanctioned the 2020 world champion with the loss of a place, which Miller won.
“First of all, I want to apologize because I don’t like to create contacts in overtaking. I was struggling accelerating, but he (Miller) was riding much slower than me. I was able to overtake him in the previous variants, but on the straight he overtook me again”, Mir introduced this Sunday from Austin.
“So, he just limited himself to closing doors, not worrying about plotting. At turn 16 , in the second part of the angle he closed and we touched. I lost a position because Bastianini overtook me”, he recalled the maneuver.
“I don’t understand the penalty at all. The races would lose the essence. The stewards must not be the same ones that were in the Qatar race. Then I waited, he came and threatened me. If I were him I’d be pissed too. I have nothing to say about Jack”, said the Mallorcan, visibly upset.
Miller’s action at the end of the race, somewhat rowdy, was not taken into account by Race Direction.
“I like to talk on the track; do not yell and threaten another pilot. I think Jack is a good guy, he has not been successful with those threats at the end of the race”, Mir pointed out.
“In the race he always performs well. What I do not understand is the decision of the Race Direction, because I have touched it, but I have not thrown anyone. I have all black rubbing jumpsuit. And I keep quiet and look for the best way to come back”.
Although Mir is already out of the fight for the title, Suzuki’s man justified trying to get the best result, as is logical.
“What would be the point of trying it if I had known that they would have taken a position from me,” he added.
Finally, Mir did not want to comment on the heated conversation with the Australian at the end of the race, on the track, where Miller came to grab him by the helmet: “I understood perfectly what he was saying, but there is no need to reproduce it,” he settled.
(Click on this link or on the image to see the photos of the 2021 MotoGP Americas GP race)
