TISSOT Grand Prix of Qatar: Reigning champion Mir hopes to rectify mistakes
Mohammad Amin
DOHA: Reigning MotoGP world champion Joan Mir will look forward to rectify his mistakes in the TISSOT Grand Prix of Qatar, which starts with the free practices on Friday.
Mir endured a tough weekend at the last weekend’s season-opener at the Losail Circuit Sports Club to finish fourth after being pipped on the line by two Ducatis.
“It was a difficult weekend because I struggled a lot to find the correct feeling with the front. I was having a lot of problems and it was making everything really difficult,” said Mir at the press conference on Thursday.
The Suzuki rider was able to make a breakthrough with set-up ahead of the race and ghosted his way from 10th on the grid to second on the final lap.
“In Warm Up, we found something interesting. I got a better feeling again, and was able to make a good race. The start wasn’t the best but then I started to recover positions over half the race. In the last laps, I tried to manage it the best way I could,” added the Spaniard.
“I overtook Pecco, and then Zarco was really good closing the gaps… and then this was the key I think for him I overtook him in the last sector but I was a bit too optimistic probably and went a bit wide at the last corner, which didn’t help to arrive second at the line…”
“I expect to change the qualifying or the first laps of the race a bit, we were really strong in the last part but we also closed the gap a lot and we used more of the tyre than normally what we would have to. It will be important to start with the front group and then manage the race with them and see in the last laps of the race where we are, which is the main goal for this weekend.”
Asked if Suzuki one of the best bikes still straight out the box, the 23-year-old said, “It’s true but we also need to work to improve our bike. Last year we showed in the second race always good potential. I remember for example in Austria and Aragon, we always in the second races found something more. I think is positive to have two races for us, and I’m looking forward to it.”
