Joan Mir: Honda's Aragon Slump Worries
Honda's Joan Mir is worried after finishing the 2026 Aragon MotoGP over ten seconds slower than his 2025 time, even as the top factory rider.
Joan Mir says a stark performance decline at the Aragon Grand Prix has left him concerned about Honda's MotoGP project. The factory HRC rider finished 12th in the 2026 race. His time was more than ten seconds slower than his 2025 result at the same circuit.
Mir completed the 2025 Aragon GP in 41 minutes and 26.133 seconds, securing seventh place. His 2026 race time was 41 minutes and 38.968 seconds. "Personally, the thing that I'm worried about is that I'm more than 10 seconds slower than last year," Mir told Crash.net after the event.
Performance Gap and Race Struggles
The Spaniard was the leading factory Honda rider. Yet he finished two seconds behind satellite LCR Honda's Diogo Moreira, who took ninth. Mir described the lack of performance as unsurprising. He pinpointed a key weakness. His main issue was stopping the bike. This problem negated any potential advantage. It caused struggles in all other areas of the track.
Honda managed two top-ten finishes through its satellite team. The factory squad's results highlighted ongoing difficulties. Mir emphasized the urgency for understanding and solutions. This is vital if the team hopes to enjoy the final part of the season.
Technical Woes and Rider Confidence
Honda's well-documented rear grip issues were compounded at Aragon. Mir reported that the problem was "worse" in specific areas. This was particularly true when stopping and approaching corners. He noted that entering corners, typically a relative strength, was a "nightmare" during the weekend.
Despite the poor feeling on the bike, Mir highlighted the importance of simply finishing the race. He has failed to finish multiple races this season. Completing the distance is vital for rider confidence. He explained his focus. When he realized he had no chance for a competitive result, his goal shifted to bringing the bike home.
Calls for Development Continue
Joan Mir has repeatedly called for Honda to bring more developments to its 2026 machine. His appeals continue despite the impending departure of the factory Repsol Honda team at the end of the current season. After the Aragon race, he stressed the need for the team to quickly diagnose the problems and implement fixes.
The comparative race times from Aragon highlight the scale of the challenge. Mir and Honda face a tough task as the season progresses. Mir's 2025 time was 41m 26.133s for 7th place. His 2026 time was 41m 38.968s for 12th.
