Joan Mir, first world champion without a win in the premier class ?
Among the six favorites for the MotoGP 2020 title, the current leader Joan Mir is the only one who has not yet won with three races from the end of this funny season. Will the Suzuki rider become the first rider to win the most coveted motorcycle titles without any victory in the premier class? ? Decryption.
Astonishing, thrilling, surprising: the MotoGP 2020 season does not lack spice between the coronavirus and the absence of Marc Marquez, "boss" of the category since 2013! The defending champion has been on the mat since the opening in Jerez (Spain) and continues to rehabilitate his arm as the antepenultimate round looms this weekend in Valencia (Spain).
- MNC file :
- MNC file :
The time to take stock of this campaign only contested in Europe – Covid-19 obliges – is approaching, as is the coronation of the new bearer of the crown. At this stage, one thing is certain: the 2020 world champion will be titled for the very first time in the premier category. !
Apart from Marquez, the only one already crowned in MotoGP is Valentino Rossi who has been forfeited since two races because of the coronavirus. But the Italian – who hopes to get back on the handlebars on Friday – is 15th at 79 points behind the leader while only 75 remain to be distributed: the No. 46 is officially out of the race for the title, victim also – and above all – of his three consecutive falls in Misano (Italy), Barcelona (Spain) and Le Mans (72).
The 14 drivers (!) Who precede him are still mathematically in contention, even if their chances are slim in the second part of this classification: Johann Zarco, 14th with 73 pts behind, can hardly claim to aim for the crown. Although: has not the Cannes driver just signed the best Ducati result with his 5th place in Aragon (Spain) ?!
Six drivers for the 2020 title
The attribution of the supreme consecration is played – except surprise – between six pilots, in the order of the provisional classification: Joan Mir (137 pts), Fabio Quartararo (123 pts), Maverick Viñales (118 pts), Franco Morbidelli (112 pts), Andrea Dovizioso (109 pts) and Alex Rins (105 pts). Or two Suzuki, three Yamaha and one Ducati.
Three points are obvious when reading this ranking: the devilishly tight gap of only 32 points between the first and the sixth, also teammates at Suzuki. Rarely seen at this stage of the season! This aspect can be explained by a second, less flattering observation: the low point balances.
If Joan Mir won the last three races, the Mallorcan would be titled with 212 points: compare to the 420 (!) Registered last year by Marc Marquez! This low number of points is explained by the absence of real leaders and the heterogeneity of the field: where, for example, have Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira, surprise winners in the Czech Republic and then in Austria on their (over) powerful KTMs. ?
Apart from these short-lived bursts, logical favorites like Maverick Viñales and Andrea Dovizioso are just a shadow of themselves, while Valentino Rossi has let his – last? – luck. As incomprehensible as it is frustrating, while the absence of Marquez nevertheless opened the royal road to them. Must have a good laugh, n ° 93 !
As for Fabio Quartararo, his three victories and his 4th pole are certainly exciting, but his difficulties in maintaining his speed challenge … 18th then 8th in Aragon, Fabio also missed out in the Czech Republic, Austria and France. Not to mention his fall at the San Marino GP, as well as his glitches such as the bad pressure in his tire in Aragon. And, perhaps, the pressure "just short" in his helmet ?
Mir, leader without victory
Third and last notable point to emerge from the provisional classification: its current leader, Joan Mir, has no success in MotoGP. The young Suzuki rider (23) is actually the only non-victorious among the six drivers vying for the title: Fabio has three wins, Viñales, Dovizioso and Rins have each won a race, while Morbidelli has won two. occasions.
Without disrespecting these geniuses of piloting, this observation again reflects the absence of real leaders and of a powerful and regular opposition. If by any chance Joan Mir were to win the title without opening her victory counter, it would be a first in the premier class since its creation in 1949 !
In the entire history of the 500 cc / MotoGP, titled riders have won at least two races: whether it is Leslie Graham in 1949, Umberto Masetti in 1950 and 1952 or even Nicky Hayden in 2006. The The last coronation won without a victory was that of Emilio Alzamora in 1999 in the 125 cc category against Marco Melandri (5 wins for the Italian … but 4 blank results!).
The panache of a victory or the glory of a title ?
However, can we discredit Joan Mir’s performance? Certainly not ! On the one hand, because nothing authorizes us to do so: go and twist a MotoGP of almost 300 hp for 25 laps, repeating the same lap times to the nearest tenth! All in this stressful atmosphere of this Covid period to say the least…
On the other hand, Joan Mir does not occupy the first place without reason: the Suzuki rider has a quality too rarely noticed this season, consistency. In the last six races, Mir has been on the podium five times as his rivals have all made at least one misstep. Joan, he keeps his line (of sight, obviously!).
Apart from his white results in the opening race and then in the Czech Republic, his record is impeccable: his 11th place at Le Mans is his worst result to date, while the victory came close to Misano (Italy) and to Barcelona (Spain).
Frankly flattering for the 2017 Moto3 world champion, who has only accumulated five seasons and 83 Grands Prix in the world championship! To compare here too with the experience of "old guys" like Rossi (17 years older!), Dovizioso, Viñales or even Rins, Mir’s teammate who has been driving the Suzuki since 2017.
Finally, as Émilio Alzamora underlines, history especially retains the name of the world champions: "in the end people remember the world championship, and the pilot’s objective is to be world champion. Sometimes circumstances mean that we don’t win a GP, as happened to me, but I don’t think that takes away any merit ", (r) assures the former Spanish pilot, today manager of the Marquez brothers !
Suzuki hopes for a Mir-acle
A formidable finisher, fast and a fine strategist, Joan Mir only lacks a little more success in qualifying: n ° 36 is more convincing with worn tires at the end of the race than with "new balls" in qualifying! Hence his departures from the second or third row, synonymous with additional efforts to get back on the leading men.
Seeing him win a race is therefore only a matter of time, especially as the GSX-RR is now the benchmark in MotoGP in terms of consistency. The Suzuki is fast on all circuits, on hot or cool asphalt. But Ducati, Honda and Yamaha cannot say the same.
Three chances are still open to Joan Mir to materialize: the Grand Prix of Europe and Valencia which follow from this weekend on the Ricardo Tormo, then the final on November 22 on the track of Portimao where the MotoGP will compete in their first race.
“Winning the championship is more important than winning a race,” says Joan Mir. "I will take the opportunity to win if it arises, but if we have to splurge, maybe better to abstain: we are all very close in the championship and a ‘zero’ can penalize us greatly".
Whatever it is, victory or not, a golden opportunity awaits Mir and Suzuki, whose last premier class title dates back to 2000 and Kenny Roberts (just before a certain Valentino Rossi took over the monopoly). What better way for Suzuki to celebrate 60 years of motorcycle Grand Prix engagement ?!
Provisional MotoGP 2020 classification before the European GP
- Joan MIR Suzuki SPA 137 points
- Fabio QUARTARARO Yamaha FRA 123 points
- Maverick VIÑALES Yamaha SPA 118 points
- Franco MORBIDELLI Yamaha ITA 112 points
- Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati ITA 109 points
- Alex RINS Suzuki SPA 105 points
- Takaaki NAKAGAMI Honda JPN 92 points
- Pol ESPARGARO KTM SPA 90 points
- Jack MILLER Ducati AUS 82 points
- Miguel OLIVEIRA KTM POR 79 points
- Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati ITA 71 points
- Brad BINDER KTM RSA 67 points
- Alex MARQUEZ Honda SPA 67 points
- Johann ZARCO Ducati FRA 64 points
- Valentino ROSSI Yamaha ITA 58 points
- Francesco BAGNAIA Ducati ITA 42 points
- Iker LECUONA KTM SPA 27 points
- Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia SPA 27 points
- Cal CRUTCHLOW Honda GBR 26 points
- Stefan BRADL Honda GER 12 points
- Bradley SMITH Aprilia GBR 12 points
- Tito RABAT Ducati SPA 10 points
- Michele PIRRO Ducati ITA 4 points
Related articles
-
Valencia GP – Valencia GP 2020: Joan Mir MotoGP world champion on Suzuki! – Used SUZUKI
Valencia GP 2020: Joan Mir MotoGP world champion on Suzuki ! Author of his first MotoGP victory last weekend, Joan Mir secured a seventh place at the…
-
Valencia GP – Joan Mir, the 2020 MotoGP champion that nobody expected … – Used SUZUKI
Joan Mir, the 2020 MotoGP champion that no one expected… The organizers of MotoGP had two good ideas … The day before the first – and late – GP in…
-
8 hours from Oschersleben – A private world endurance champion team in Oschersleben? – Used SUZUKI
A private team world endurance champion in Oschersleben ? The # 50 Suzuki from April Moto Motors Events team, leading the world championship with 8…
-
Bol d’Or – Honda n ° 1 world champion wins Bol d’Or 2018 – Used HONDA
Honda n ° 1 world champion wins Bol d’Or 2018 At the end of a completely upset end of the race, the Honda n ° 1 of FCC TSR Honda France wins the Bol d’Or…
-
Drivers and teams – Did the doctors misjudge the Marquez case? – Used HONDA
Did the doctors misjudge the Marquez case? ? At rest forced at least until mid-October following his second operation, Marc Marquez must resolve to let…
-
Race – Report and results of the MotoGP Thailand GP (Marquez world champion 2019) –
MotoGP Thailand GP report and results (Marquez 2019 world champion) Marc Marquez caps at 26 his eighth motorcycle Grand Prix crown, his sixth in MotoGP,…
-
WSBK – World Champions: Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki pass the six in Superbike – Used KAWASAKI
World champions: Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki pass the six in Superbike This year again, Jonathan Rea was the strongest: the Number One of the World…
-
Suzuka 8H – Kawasaki wins Suzuka 8H and becomes 2019 world endurance champion – Used KAWASAKI
Kawasaki wins Suzuka 8H and becomes 2019 endurance world champion The official Kawasaki team won the final of the World Endurance Championship in Suzuka…
-
24 Heures Motos – 24H Moto: who will be the 2013 endurance world champion? –
24H Moto: who will be the 2013 endurance world champion ? The 2013 24H Moto, the last round of the endurance world championship this weekend at Le Mans…
-
Culture – Honda celebrates 50 years of its arrival in the premier class of Grand Prix – Used HONDA
Honda celebrates 50 years of its arrival in the premier class of Grand Prix Honda is taking advantage of the 2016 Japanese Grand Prix to celebrate 50…