Joan Mir has attributed his extreme crash record at Honda to a refusal to ride passively as he prepares for a 2027 Gresini Ducati switch.
The 2020 world champion has endured 79 falls across his 69 grand prix appearances for the Tokyo manufacturer. He shares the 2026 crash lead with Jorge Martin on 16 falls each.
His aggressive philosophy contrasts sharply with teammate Luca Marini. The Italian has crashed just 13 times over 51 race weekends.
Pushing The Honda RC213V Limits
Mir views his aggressive approach as essential for extracting performance from an uncompetitive package. The Spaniard insists that riding cautiously yields nothing of value.
“In a competitive project, what is most appreciated is speed, trying to go to the maximum and getting the best possible result,” Mir said.
The Honda machine requires massive risks in braking zones to offset poor corner-exit grip. Mir noted that the current aerodynamic regulations make following competitors particularly precarious.
“When I’m alone, I’m able to ride very fast and quite safe. But when I follow the others, to stop the bike behind them in the slipstream of the people with this aero, you have to risk, to stop in the same way,” he added.
Taking Risks Over Safe Finishes
The factory rider maintains that he has “zero regrets” regarding his approach during his challenging Honda tenure.
Mir will look to convert that uncompromising speed into regular results when he lines up on satellite Ducati machinery at the 2027 season opener.
