P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Joan Mir says he was “lucky” to get a podium at the Malaysian MotoGP after “one of the hardest races in my life”.
Joan Mir returned to the podium at the Malaysian MotoGP, but he considers himself fortunate to have finished in the top three due to fortunate circumstances during the race. He battled with Fermin Aldeguer initially, then surpassed Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo to secure fourth place. Francesco Bagnaia’s retirement due to a puncture on lap 18 allowed Mir to claim the final podium spot. Mir emphasized the importance of tire management in the challenging race, noting the difficulty in maintaining performance throughout. Despite his efforts, he acknowledged that he couldn’t have achieved a higher position than third given the superior pace of the top two finishers, Pedro Acosta and Alex Marquez. Mir opted for the soft-compound rear tire as the medium option proved ineffective for his Honda HRC Castrol bike during the weekend. Currently, he occupies the 15th position in the MotoGP standings, looking ahead to the upcoming rounds in Portimao and Valencia.
