Joan Mir, the 2020 MotoGP world champion, has explained his decision to leave the factory Honda team and join satellite squad Gresini Ducati for the new 850cc/Pirelli era in 2027. The Spaniard, who has spent his entire premier-class career with factory teams at Suzuki and then Honda, calls it a calculated risk.
"After managing just two podiums in almost four seasons with Honda, I'm following the path already taken by Marc Marquez," Mir told Crash.net. "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. 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."
The 29-year-old from Majorca has signed a two-year deal with the Faenza-based squad. Despite losing factory team status, Mir will have access to a factory-spec motorcycle. "It's time to go back to being competitive. It's time to do it. Our careers are not very long," he added.