Joan Mir will leave Honda at the end of 2026 to join Gresini Ducati for the 2027 MotoGP season, seeking a fresh start after years of frustration with the Japanese manufacturer’s struggles. The 2020 world champion, now 18th in this year’s standings with 29 points, cited Honda’s lack of development and his own high attrition rate—40 DNFs in 68 races since 2023—as reasons for the move. Mir admitted his early-season optimism led to risky overtakes and crashes, while Honda’s slow progress left him disappointed despite the team’s supportive environment.
Honda’s focus on its 2027 project and the signing of Fabio Quartararo have sidelined Mir, who now turns to Gresini for a chance to rediscover racing enjoyment. He joins a team where former Honda riders Alex Marquez and Marc Marquez revived their careers, with Gresini boasting a familial atmosphere and competitive Ducati machinery. Mir, who hasn’t won a race since 2020, sees parallels between Gresini and his title-winning Suzuki days, where team culture played a key role in success.
The Spaniard, who will turn 30 next season, aims to close his Honda chapter positively while embracing the change. His move reflects broader frustrations with Honda’s recent MotoGP performance, despite Mir’s consistent speed when the bike allowed it.
