P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Joan Mir ends a near four-year MotoGP podium drought with his best Honda result.
Joan Mir ended almost four years of frustration by achieving his first podium in Honda colors at Motegi, a whopping 1,422 days since his last podium in 2021 with Suzuki.
Throughout this period, Mir faced various challenges like injuries, an uncompetitive Honda, and misfortune, leading to 29 retirements.
This barren run of 67 races without a podium was among the longest for a former champion in MotoGP, closely behind Nicky Hayden’s exceptional case.
Mir acknowledged the difficult period and the uncertainties that came with switching to Honda, highlighting the sheer joy of finally achieving a podium.
This achievement marked a stark contrast to Mir’s rapid rise in the earlier stages of his career, where success came quickly before enduring a dry spell before this notable victory.
