Joan Mir Back at Honda: What We Know About His 44-Day Break

• Comeback on Friday, 30 October 2026, in the first free practice session at Sepang
• Mir missed Austria, Japan, Indonesia and Australia
• Neither Honda nor Mir has made the cause of his health problems public

There are 44 days between Joan Mir’s last race and his return. On 13 September, the 2020 world champion parked his Honda at Misano after just a few laps. On 27 October, the Honda HRC Castrol factory team confirmed his comeback. In between came blood tests, a prescribed rest period and a series of replacement riders that Honda eventually ran out of. For the Mallorcan, this also marks the start of his final weeks in the Honda factory team before he moves to Gresini in 2027.

When will Joan Mir race in MotoGP again?

Joan Mir returns on Friday, 30 October 2026, at the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit. Honda officially confirmed the comeback on Tuesday after doctors declared the Spaniard fit to race.

Mir had already hinted at his return himself two days earlier. On Instagram, he showed himself training on a flat-track bike in his native Spain and signed off by saying he would see everyone in Malaysia. In the week before the confirmation, he says he rode various types of motorcycles to check how far along he was. Team manager Alberto Puig had already said on the sidelines of the Australian GP in the international TV broadcast that he would normally expect Mir back at Sepang. At the time, Puig expressly did not want to promise anything.

In his team’s statement, Mir looks back openly on the past few weeks: “It hasn’t been an easy period, and I want to thank everyone close to me for helping to keep focused and working towards the end goal.”

What illness did Joan Mir have?

It is still not known which illness put Joan Mir out of action. Neither Honda, nor Mir, nor the MotoGP medical management has published a diagnosis.

The problem first became visible at the San Marino GP at Misano. As early as Saturday, Mir said he was lacking strength and energy. He estimated his performance level at around half. In Sunday’s race, he retired after a few laps and did not face the media afterwards. Three days later, Honda announced that blood tests had shown abnormal values that needed further investigation.

This was followed by examinations in Barcelona under the supervision of Dr. Ángel Charte, the MotoGP medical director. On 22 September, he reported via the team that the results did not yet give a clear picture. Mir was prescribed 15 days of absolute rest and rehabilitation treatment; this phase ended on 6 October. Charte also reported that Mir had been struggling for several months with symptoms affecting his energy and performance, and that they had recently worsened. He too was unable to name the exact cause.

The doctors’ clearance means that Mir is allowed to race again. However, that does not yet say whether he can immediately pick up where he left off before the break.

Which races did Joan Mir miss?

Joan Mir missed four Grands Prix: Austria, Japan, Indonesia and Australia. For Honda, it became more difficult from race to race to find a replacement rider at all.

Takaaki Nakagami stepped in at Spielberg, and Somkiat Chantra took over at Motegi. For Mandalika, Honda brought back Aleix Espargaró, who travelled to Indonesia but withdrew again before the sprint. Puig later explained the reasons for the shortage. Nakagami had an accident in Japan, and Espargaró had problems with his arm, which he had operated on after returning to Spain.

For Phillip Island, Honda therefore did not nominate a replacement at all. Then Luca Marini was hit too: a virus forced him to stop after just two laps in the first free practice session, and on Saturday he was declared unfit to race. As a result, not a single Honda factory bike lined up for the sprint. Sunday’s main race did not take place because the rescue helicopter could not fly safely in poor visibility.

According to Puig, the series of absences is not slowing down development of the 2027 bike. In his words, the work is largely going to plan, partly thanks to a test in Austria at which three experienced riders completed many laps and tried out tyres, among other things. Nevertheless, Puig does not call the situation ideal.

What are Joan Mir’s goals for his comeback at Sepang?

Joan Mir is not setting himself a specific result target for Sepang. For him, what matters first is getting back on the bike, reconnecting with the team and feeling how he is getting on with the RC213V.

He deliberately chose this track for his return. Mir has good memories of Sepang and considers a familiar circuit the right place for a fresh start. In 2025, he finished third there to take a podium, which remains his last MotoGP podium to date. Before that, things rarely went well for him in Malaysia: in 2023 and 2024 he did not reach the finish there.

The comeback will still not be easy. Heat, high humidity, long straights and hard braking zones make Sepang a physically demanding circuit. The free practice sessions on Friday give Honda the opportunity to assess Mir’s condition before qualifying and the sprint on Saturday. The main race starts on Sunday, 1 November, at 3 pm local time.

In the championship standings, Mir is 18th with 33 points. After four years with Honda, he moves to the Gresini team for the 2027 season and will then ride a Ducati.

Will Luca Marini race at the Malaysian GP?

Luca Marini also expects to start at Sepang. The final decision will be made at the medical check on the Thursday before the race weekend.

According to Charte, the Italian suffered from a high fever for three to four days before the Australian GP. The virus then weakened the muscles in his upper and lower body. Marini says he now feels better and is training in the gym again. However, he points out that a MotoGP bike is something else entirely. For Sepang, he therefore plans to approach the weekend a little differently and save energy for Sunday’s race. How well that works will also depend on the weather, he says. He does not expect any problems at the medical check. If both start, Honda will line up with its regular factory line-up for the first time since Misano.

How does the 2026 MotoGP season continue for Honda?

After Malaysia, three more races remain on the 2026 MotoGP calendar. Qatar follows from 6 to 8 November, Portugal at Portimão from 20 to 22 November and finally Valencia.

For Mir, these are his last four outings with the Honda factory team. At the front of the championship, these races will decide the title between Marc Márquez and Jorge Martín. After the cancelled race at Phillip Island, Márquez leads with 365 points ahead of Martín with 355 points.

Frequently Asked Questions

➜ 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.