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The factory Honda team have officially announced that Joan Mir will return to the MotoGP grid for the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix after missing several consecutive races due to health issues.
The Spanish rider hinted at his comeback at Sepang last weekend via social media. Mir had been sidelined following the Austrian Grand Prix, missing race weekends in Japan, Indonesia, and Australia due to an undisclosed illness that required extensive medical examinations.
The former world champion has now received medical clearance to resume racing at Sepang, the venue where he last stepped onto the podium.
"It hasn't been an easy period at all, and I want to thank everyone around me who helped me stay focused and work towards my recovery. Over the past week, I was able to ride different types of bikes, and the doctors have given me the green light to return. I can't wait to reunite with the team and see what we can achieve in the remaining races of the year.
I have fantastic memories at Sepang, as do the entire Honda crew, so returning at such a familiar track is the right choice. The most important thing this weekend is to get back on the bike, rebuild our rhythm with the team, and find my pace," Joan Mir said.
With Mir sidelined without a replacement in Australia, a virus also struck Luca Marini, leaving the factory Honda HRC squad without a single bike on track at Phillip Island after Free Practice 1. However, the Italian rider is also optimistic about competing in Malaysia.
"Unfortunately at Phillip Island, we couldn't manage more than two or three laps, and since Friday I've been fully focused on recovering as quickly as possible. I'm feeling better now and have resumed gym workouts, but riding a MotoGP machine is always a different challenge. Sepang is extremely demanding due to the harsh climate conditions. We will definitely adapt our approach for the weekend to preserve enough energy for Sunday, and much will depend on the weather. I still have a mandatory medical check before the weekend gets underway, but I don't anticipate any setbacks," Marini stated.
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