Former MotoGP world champion Joan Mir has explained his decision to leave Honda HRC to join satellite team Gresini Ducati for the 2027 850cc/Pirelli era, calling it "a risk I wanted to take."
The Spaniard, who has spent eight years in MotoGP exclusively with factory teams (Suzuki and Honda), said he is willing to give up official team status to return to competitiveness, after managing just two podiums in almost four seasons with Honda.
"When you move to a satellite team you give up many things, as you can imagine, but it's a move I wanted to do," Mir said. "It's a risky one because with a competitive package you expose yourself [if you don't perform], but it's a risk I wanted to take."
Mir (29) has signed a two-year deal and will have a factory-spec bike at Gresini, following the path of Marc Marquez, who also left Honda for Gresini Ducati. "I don't know how many more years I will be in MotoGP, but I've signed for two more years. It's time to go back to being competitive. Our careers are not very long," he added.
The Spaniard emphasised his hunger for success: "If I continue pushing, crashing almost every week, standing up, trying again, never giving up, it's because I'm still very hungry. I don't do this for other people, but I did it for myself."
Sources
- Crash.net — Joan Mir explains Gresini Ducati MotoGP move: https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/1101090/1/risk-i-wanted-take-joan-mir-explains-gresini-ducati-motogp-move
