MotoGP - Mir: "When these things happen you realize the risk"

The Suzuki rider had only added one podium so far this season – Portimao – and had just retired due to a crash at Le Mans , so he had lost ground in the championship. Mir started ninth, but halfway through the race he hunted down, along with his teammate Álex Rins, Johann Zarco and Miguel Oliveira.

With Fabio Quartararo completely escaping, the four of them played for the remaining two places on the podium. The first to be ruled out was Rins, who fell five laps from the end. Zarco could not hold out in the last section either and was a mere spectator of Mir and Oliveira’s fight.

In the last lap, defending second place against Mir, the Portuguese slightly exceeded the limits of the track, but crossed the finish line ahead of the Spaniard. Although at first they made him lose a place, they finally gave him back the position and the defending champion occupied the third step of the podium.

“I am exhausted, I have given my all, everything I had inside to achieve this podium. We already knew that the pace was one of the best. I came out to give everything and in the end I was able to be constant in my lap time. I went from Less than more, I wasn’t prepared to overtake Miguel Oliveira”, commented Mir.

The Suzuki rider, who was deservedly world champion in 2020 thanks to being the most regular, vindicated himself after two races off the podium.

“I have felt where I want to be again, we do not keep anything to ourselves. The champion Mir has been seen. In each race I give my best, in some I fall on the flag to flag and in others, on the podium. Circumstances put me on the spot. Happy and attentive because the rivals push a lot,” he said.

The Spaniard, like all pilots, did not forget the tragic news of the death of Jason Dupasquier.

“This podium is for Dupasquier. It was very difficult today to put on the helmet for everyone. It’s our job and we have to do it. What better than being able to dedicate the podium to Dupasquier. Nobody wants it to happen, but when these things happen you realize the risks that this has. You have to be a little selfish to be able to go out to a race after what has happened. Our obligation is to put on a show. Today is enjoyed in a different way. It is surely the saddest podium in Mugello, for what yesterday, without an audience”.

“I would also like to dedicate this podium to Elvis [Elvio Deganello], a mechanic who had an accident and is recovering, for him and the whole team who have done a great job,” he concluded.