After spending nearly seven weeks on the sidelines due to a mysterious illness whose medical diagnosis has never been publicly disclosed, Joan Mir is officially set to make his much-anticipated return to the grid this weekend. The 2020 MotoGP world champion was forced to sit out consecutive Grands Prix in Austria, Japan, Indonesia, and Australia as he focused entirely on his physical recovery.
His prolonged absence created severe logistical and operational hurdles for the Japanese factory squad. During the first three rounds of his layoff, the team deployed three different replacement riders including Takaaki Nakagami, Somkiat Chantra, and Aleix Espargaro. The situation reached a critical low point at Phillip Island in Australia, where no replacement riders were available and teammate Luca Marini was also sidelined by illness, leaving the garage completely empty for the Saturday sprint.
Signs of recovery finally emerged when the Mallorcan rider shared photos and videos of himself engaging in flat-track training back home in Spain, accompanied by a direct message confirming his arrival in Sepang. In an official team statement released on Tuesday, he expressed profound gratitude to his inner circle for maintaining his focus throughout the arduous recovery period.
“It hasn't been an easy time, and I want to thank everyone around me for helping me stay focused and work toward the end goal,” Joan Mir stated officially. “Last week I was able to ride a little bit with different types of motorcycles, and the doctors have given me the green light to return. I am very much looking forward to seeing the team again and finding out what we can achieve in these final races of the year.”
Returning at the Sepang International Circuit holds sentimental and technical value for the Spaniard, who secured a podium finish there last year aboard the Honda machine. Meanwhile, his teammate is reportedly recovering well and awaits a final medical assessment on Thursday, raising strong hopes that the factory squad will field its full lineup once again.
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