- There is still no clear diagnosis; Mir is to recover and undergo further tests
- The goal is a return at the Grand Prix of Japan from 2 to 4 October at Motegi
- For Nakagami, Spielberg is his first MotoGP outing of the 2026 season
The difficult weekend at Misano has consequences for Joan Mir. Honda HRC Castrol confirmed on Wednesday that the 2020 world champion will not line up for the Grand Prix of Austria at the Red Bull Ring. Mir did not even travel to Austria. Takaaki Nakagami takes over his Honda RC213V with number 36. For the Japanese rider it is more than a short-notice appearance, because the weekend combines race running, test work and the preparation for his home round.
Why is Joan Mir missing the Austrian GP?
Mir is out because his blood values are abnormal and the doctors have not yet found the cause. His medical team has therefore advised him to focus entirely on recovery and to skip the race at Spielberg.
Immediately after the Grand Prix of San Marino, Mir underwent examinations in Barcelona. According to Honda, the detailed checks showed altered values in his blood count, which now have to be investigated more closely. Which values exactly are affected is not stated in the team’s announcement.
Honda bases the decision on two points: the symptoms Mir already had in Italy, and the absence of a clear diagnosis. The break is intended to give him rest and time for further tests and examinations.
What happened at the Grand Prix of San Marino?
Mir was clearly weakened at Misano and retired from Sunday’s race after five laps. On Saturday he had already complained about headaches and a severe lack of energy.
In the sprint he finished only 20th. Afterwards he said that he did not even feel at half his strength. He could not explain his condition himself. On Sunday he tried anyway, but it did not get any better. When it became clear that he could not physically finish the Grand Prix, he headed for the pits.
After the race, Mir described the situation like this: “Sadly today was the same as yesterday and I had no energy or power on the bike. I tried to ride by myself but there was nothing to be achieved and I thought staying out on track would only make the situation worse. It’s a really difficult moment to be in. Now we head for some checks before Austria and see what we can do to get my physical condition back to normal ASAP.”
When is Joan Mir due to return?
Mir and Honda are planning his return at the Grand Prix of Japan, which takes place from 2 to 4 October at Motegi. That is not a firm commitment. Honda puts it in terms of Mir wanting to be healthy again by then.
The race in Japan follows directly after Austria and is a particularly important date for Honda as a Japanese manufacturer. Motegi also marks the start of the Asian stretch of the season. For Mir, these are at the same time his final months in Honda’s factory team. In 2027 he moves to Gresini on a two-year contract and will then ride a Ducati.
Why is Honda fielding a replacement rider at all?
Honda could also have left the grid slot at Spielberg empty. Because of the short gap between Misano and the Red Bull Ring, the manufacturer was not obliged to enter a replacement rider.
For the decision, Honda names above all practical advantages. Nakagami was scheduled for the test on the Monday after the race in Austria anyway. The outing now lets him and HRC use a complete race weekend on top of that to continue the work with the current 1000cc machine. His team-mate at Spielberg is Luca Marini.
What does the Spielberg outing bring for Nakagami?
For Nakagami, Spielberg is a dress rehearsal for his wildcard at Motegi. There he will start in early October at his home race on the current 1000cc Honda, so on the same type of bike he is riding now in Austria.
A wildcard is an additional grid slot that a manufacturer uses for a rider outside the permanent entry list. At Spielberg, by contrast, Nakagami rides as a stand-in within the regular factory team. For the Japanese rider with number 30 it is the first MotoGP outing of this season. His most recent race so far was last year at Motegi.
Since then, Nakagami has been working as HRC’s development rider mainly on the prototype with 850 cubic centimetres and Pirelli tyres. He last tested at Mugello. After the race weekend in Austria, the joint test with the 850cc bikes and Pirelli tyres is on his schedule for Monday. Within a few weeks he therefore switches several times between the current race bike and the new technology.
Which other riders are missing from the Austrian GP?
Besides Mir, Maverick Vinales is also absent at Spielberg. He is not yet fit again after his shoulder injury and will once more be replaced at Tech3 by Pol Espargaro on the KTM.
At Trackhouse it goes the other way. The team has announced the return of Ai Ogura, who had missed the past two Grands Prix with a broken thumb. In the 2026 MotoGP season, Spielberg is the last race before the world championship moves on to Asia with Motegi.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why is Joan Mir missing the Grand Prix of Austria?
Mir is out on medical advice. Examinations in Barcelona after the Grand Prix of San Marino showed altered blood values, and there is still no clear diagnosis. The break is meant to give him recovery and time for further tests.
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Who replaces Joan Mir at the Grand Prix of Austria?
HRC development rider Takaaki Nakagami takes over the Honda RC213V in the factory team. He rides alongside Luca Marini and stays at the circuit afterwards for the test on Monday.
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When will Joan Mir return?
His return is planned for the Grand Prix of Japan from 2 to 4 October at Motegi. Honda says that Mir wants to be healthy again by then.
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Did Honda have to field a replacement rider for Joan Mir?
No, because of the short gap between Misano and Spielberg no replacement was required. Honda still opted for Nakagami, who can also use the weekend to prepare his wildcard at Motegi.
➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: 2026 MotoGP Season: The Complete Overview – Teams, Riders, Calendar & Championship Standings. Find all key information on this topic in one place.
