Mir will miss Japan and Indonesia as Honda still searches for the cause of his symptoms

Honda has announced that Joan Mir will miss both the Japanese and Indonesian Grands Prix. The 2020 world champion had already withdrawn from Austria after feeling unwell at Misano, and further medical examinations in Barcelona have still not precisely identified the cause of his symptoms.

Honda says Mir has suffered for several months from problems affecting his energy and performance, which have recently worsened. Dr Ángel Charte has prescribed fifteen days of strict rest and rehabilitation, automatically ruling him out of Motegi and Mandalika. No return date has yet been set.

The situation also forces Honda to reorganise its riders. Takaaki Nakagami is already entered as a wildcard at Motegi with the HRC Test Team, so the manufacturer will need a specific replacement for Mir. Aleix Espargaró and Cal Crutchlow are among the options mentioned, but no official decision has yet been announced.