Mir Traces High Crash Tally to Calculated Risks for Better Performance
With 22 crashes last year and 16 so far this season, Joan Mir has become the rider with the highest number of falls on the MotoGP grid, yet he blames the elevated tally on the calculated risk‑taking required to squeeze the most performance from his Honda.
Marc Marquez departed Honda at the close of 2023, citing repeated crashes whenever he attempted to increase speed, even accusing the factory of unsafe design compromises. In 15 Grand Prix events that year he suffered 29 crashes—nearly two incidents per weekend.
During that same season Mir transferred to the Japanese outfit based in Tokyo, recording 24 crashes across 69 Grands Prix—a tally identical to the 24 times he crashed while driving for Suzuki over his preceding three seasons.
This pattern has persisted ever since.
Across the 69 Honda Grands Prix contestations, Mir has logged 79 crashes, averaging more than one incident per race.
Johann Zarco has amassed 49 crashes in 48 races with LCR’s RC213V, his latest crash in Barcelona proving catastrophic.
At the Aragon Grand Prix, Mir was asked to explain the statistics and the unusually high number of his crashes, noting that a majority occurred during competition, many before even crossing the first lap.
“There is no specific explanation because every crash has a different reason,” he explained. “At Silverstone, for instance, I had contact at the start and subsequently crashed. What is evident is that riders starting from the front rows avoid incidents, whereas those approaching from the rear face markedly different challenges. Consequently, the strategy involves positioning farther forward.”
“It is clear that we have had crashes of that type, and others stemming from excessive risk‑taking beyond sustainable limits. These are the moments I must control more closely as a competitor.”
Those crashes come from attempting to extract additional performance from the machine than is realistic. I remain an experienced rider, yet I am now also someone who maximizes opportunities to secure positive outcomes, because I never know when such chances will arise.
Having results inconsistently can convey either a heightened drive to excel or a loss of motivation altogether. In my case, I once questioned whether continuing was worthwhile, but now I actively chase success whenever the chance arises, driven by hunger for improvement.
Mir previously confessed doubts about his future, but he has since rekindled his passion, restoring ambition and excitement for the 2027 season when he will join Gresini aboard a satellite Ducati.
Marini doesn’t crash
What stands out most about Mir’s crash frequency is his teammate Luca Marini, whose profile offers a stark contrast. Since joining Honda in 2024, Marini has taken part in 51 Grands Prix and recorded only 13 crashes—three of them occurring during races: twice in his inaugural season and once in 2025 (Japan).
The focus at Honda suggests a blend of the pursuit of maximum speed and fearless overtaking alongside a more measured racecraft philosophy. Mir remarked, “I believe this emphasis is valued” in a highly competitive project, where speed and aggressive attempts to break the podium are prized.
“Other teams sometimes prioritize a development orientation that emphasizes race finishes. Those approaches represent a different aesthetic of riding the bike. I am equally skilled in the alternative path—a smoother, less fraught style.”
“Clearly, attaining speed makes slowing down simple. Yet pushing harder is inherently challenging. My priority is not to become accustomed to reduced speed but to continually challenge myself to improve—never settling for mediocrity.”
That vision has guided Mira’s tenure at Honda, especially today. Managing the mental pressure of being a champion—and confronting the lingering demons of doubt—has become his constant companion; he wrestles with these impulses and channels them into relentless progress.