Joan Mir Ruled Out of the Japanese and Indonesian Grands Prix

Joan Mir will miss the next two rounds of the MotoGP World Championship. Honda HRC Castrol announced on 22 September that the 2020 world champion has been advised not to compete at the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi or the Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika, as doctors continue to investigate the cause of symptoms that have affected him for several months.

The decision follows medical tests at the Dexeus University Hospital in Barcelona under MotoGP Medical Director Dr Angel Charte. Those tests have so far been inconclusive, and Mir has been prescribed 15 days of strict rest and rehabilitative therapy.

What has happened to Mir

Mir was forced to retire from the San Marino Grand Prix and then sat out the Austrian Grand Prix, where Honda test rider Takaaki Nakagami replaced him and finished 13th. According to Crash.net, he had described feeling at around 50 per cent of his normal energy level at Misano, a striking admission from a rider known for his physical preparation.

Dr Charte’s statement explained the background. “Joan Mir has been experiencing a variety of symptoms impacting his energy and performance for several months with a recent increase in severity, the cause is still unconfirmed at this time,” he said. “Due to the symptoms, the medical advice is to observe strict rest and undergo various treatments for the next 15 days. Consequently, I have advised him against participating in the Japanese and Indonesian Grands Prix.”

• Mir retired from the San Marino Grand Prix and missed Austria.
• Tests at Dexeus University Hospital have not yet produced a diagnosis.
• He has been prescribed 15 days of strict rest and therapy.
• His condition will be updated after further tests.

Replacement and schedule

At the time of the announcement, Honda said it would name a replacement in due course. Crash.net listed Nakagami, former Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro and Cal Crutchlow as options. The following day, HRC confirmed that WorldSBK rider Somkiat Chantra would take the seat at Motegi, with Mir’s status to be reviewed after the Indonesian round.

The Japanese Grand Prix runs from 2 to 4 October and is followed by Indonesia, the start of a concentrated sequence of five Grands Prix in six weeks. Missing both events means Mir will have been absent from four consecutive rounds, counting Misano, where he did not finish, and Austria.

Why this is a difficult situation

Injuries in MotoGP usually come with a clear timeline: a fracture, an operation and a recovery period. Mir’s situation is harder because the cause has not been identified. That makes it impossible to set a return date and places the emphasis on rest and investigation rather than rehabilitation towards a known target.

It is also a reminder that fatigue-related illness can be as limiting as a crash injury in a sport that demands full strength and concentration. Riding a MotoGP bike at the limit requires sustained physical effort and precise reactions. A rider who feels his energy is significantly reduced faces both a performance problem and a potential safety concern, which is why the medical team has taken a cautious line.

• No diagnosis means no fixed return date.
• The medical priority is rest, treatment and further testing.
• Honda will run a replacement rider at the next two rounds.
• Mir’s condition will be reassessed after Indonesia.

Context: Honda’s season and Mir’s future

The timing is unfortunate for both rider and team. Honda has been rebuilding its competitiveness and is working hard on its 850cc machine for 2027, which was among the pace-setters at the post-race test in Austria. Mir, however, will leave Honda at the end of the season, according to reports around that test, which means his remaining races with the factory are limited.

From a sporting perspective, a replacement rider can provide useful data, but Honda loses the input of an experienced world champion at a stage when every weekend offers development information. For Mir personally, the bigger concern is simply understanding what is wrong. His health comes before any racing consideration, and the tone of Honda’s statement reflects that.

What comes next

Mir will continue his programme of rest and treatment in Spain while the medical team carries out further tests. The next update is expected after the Indonesian Grand Prix, which will determine whether he can return for any of the remaining rounds, including the Australian and Malaysian events.

For fans in Southeast Asia, it is disappointing news. Mandalika in particular draws a large regional audience, and a former world champion missing the event reduces the strength of the field. But the priority is correct. The paddock will hope that the additional tests provide clear answers and that Mir can return fit and healthy, whether that is later this season or in the next stage of his career.

In the meantime, Honda’s replacement plan gives another rider an opportunity. The team has previously used Nakagami as a stand-in and as a wildcard, and it now has a Southeast Asian option with premier-class experience. How that rider handles the RC213V at Motegi and Mandalika will be closely watched, not least because the results will still count for Honda’s constructor standing and development picture.

How Honda has covered the gap

Honda has already shown it can adapt at short notice. When Mir was ruled out of Austria, Nakagami stepped in and brought the bike home 13th, collecting points in a race where the factory’s regular line-up was disrupted. For Motegi, the team turned to Chantra, keeping Nakagami free for his planned wildcard. That arrangement means Honda will have an extra RC213V on track at its home round, which can be useful for gathering data even while one of its regular riders is absent.

The longer-term picture remains open. If the next tests identify a cause and a treatment plan, Mir could target a return for the later flyaway rounds or the final European races. If not, Honda may need to extend its replacement arrangements further into the season.

Mir’s absence also highlights how much the grid has been reshaped by injuries this season. Several riders have missed rounds, and teams have relied on test riders and substitutes to fill gaps. For Honda, maintaining consistent feedback through the flyaways will be important as it balances this season’s results with preparation for the new regulations.