Joan Mir got back on his Suzuki after several weeks out of the competition due to an ankle injury. The 2020 world champion suffered a hard crash at the Austrian Grand Prix, and although he tried to come back in Aragon, he was not able to endure the first practices of the weekend.
With nothing to lose, Mir focused on making a 100% recovery , postponing his comeback until the current Australian Grand Prix. The result seems to be satisfactory, and he posted the 12th fastest time of the day, ahead of his teammate, Alex Rins.
In addition, the Spaniard hastened his chances of achieving one last good result with Suzuki, after the Hamamatsu factory announced his departure from MotoGP at the end of the course.
“I was able to lap more or less well; we just made some changes to the rear brake,” Mir explained to the press after the first two tests were over. “Normally the cam goes much harder, but I can’t apply that much pressure right now.” “On a motorcycle [of the two he has] I have the rear brake in my hand, but the cam is not in the place I like,” he added shortly after.
However, Joan has not lost an iota of competitiveness , and said she believes that she will be able to “improve her time”, although she admits that “everyone has a margin”. “I met some drivers in the first sector, and that’s what leads me to think that I have a margin.”
Not having been present at the first two dates of the Asian tour (Japan and Thailand) is assuming an extra effort due to jet lag . “I’m suffering a bit from the time change, I think I was a little too late (Wednesday morning).”
But Phillip Island is a unique circuit, and this was recognized by Suzuki, who said he had enjoyed “a lot”. “Coming here after missing four races is a challenge. It already is in normal conditions. I’m not far from the top five.”
Regarding the injury that prevented him from completing the Aragon Grand Prix, Mir feels recovered , albeit with some discomfort. In any case, the #36 is clear that “there will be no problem to finish the race”.
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