Honda without Joan Mir: Why only Chantra is left for Phillip Island

• Joan Mir has missed three race weekends since Misano, and no diagnosis has been made public to this day
• Aleix Espargaro finished last in the Mandalika sprint, 38.336 seconds behind, and then skipped the Grand Prix
• Somkiat Chantra is free after the end of the Superbike season and could step in at Phillip Island

It has been four weeks since Joan Mir returned to the pits completely exhausted after just five laps at the San Marino Grand Prix. Since then, the 2020 world champion has not contested a single race. During this time, Honda has put three different riders on its RC213V, and each of these solutions had its own problems. Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix from 23 to 25 October, the list of possible replacement riders has shrunk to a single name.

Who will replace Joan Mir at the Australian Grand Prix?

Honda has not yet confirmed a rider for Phillip Island. Realistically, only Somkiat Chantra remains, who completed his season in the Superbike World Championship this weekend.

Whether Mir himself returns is open. The race in Indonesia was followed by a race-free weekend, after which a decision has to be made. So far there have been no signs from Mir’s camp of a comeback for number 36. This leaves Honda dependent on its substitutes’ bench, which is now almost empty. Test rider Takaaki Nakagami, who stood in for Mir in Austria, is out after breaking his collarbone during his wildcard outing at Motegi. Aleix Espargaro showed in Mandalika that he is not yet physically ready.

Honda cannot simply leave the seat empty. The regulations require a replacement to start in place of a missing regular rider. That is exactly why Espargaro had to compete in Indonesia, even though it was clear beforehand that his fitness after the long rehab was not really sufficient.

Why did Aleix Espargaro lack strength in Mandalika?

After his long injury break, Espargaro lacked strength in his arms. He suffered from arm pump, severe cramps in the forearms that make steering and braking more difficult.

For the 37-year-old, it was his first proper outing on the 1000cc Honda in half a year. Before that, he had only ridden the bike during a short shakedown of a few laps. His last race had been the season finale in Valencia at the end of 2025. In April, he broke several vertebrae in a testing crash at Sepang and was unable to ride for almost six months afterwards.

On Saturday morning, he crashed in the second free practice session. He started the 13-lap sprint from the last grid position and also finished it in last place. He explains the crash without beating around the bush: “I simply had no strength in my arm when changing direction. Without strength I lost the front, I just couldn’t control it any more.”

He speaks openly about the fact that he even had doubts about starting the sprint because of this. In the end he rode out of respect for the team and for himself, without taking risks and with the sole aim of reaching the finish. His own verdict is clear: “You could clearly see that I wasn’t strong enough for it.”

Why didn’t Espargaro start the Indonesian Grand Prix?

Honda and Espargaro jointly decided against starting on Sunday morning. The team cited ongoing physical problems as the reason, but behind this was also a trade-off with a view to development for 2027.

In its statement, Honda referred to the long time without riding practice after the injuries at the start of the year and to the particular physical demands of the Mandalika circuit. Espargaro himself had already hinted on Saturday that more was at stake than just the race. A few days later, a two-day test with the new 850cc prototype at Sepang was on his schedule. The question was therefore whether he would race or save himself to be fresh for the test.

He feels ready for testing, as he explains: “For testing I feel fine. There you ride more like three to four laps at a time and no more. Racing is a different matter. You have to do many laps at a high pace, that’s completely different.”

The test carries great weight for Honda. From 2027, new technical rules apply in MotoGP with engines of 850 cc displacement, and Nakagami’s injury means a test rider is already missing. Espargaro therefore describes his role as follows: “I’m trying to help the team as much as possible. Taka’s not here. Chantra was very good in Japan, but he’s racing in Superbike. So it’s on me right now.” He added that he wants to use himself as wisely as possible.

What speaks for Somkiat Chantra as a replacement for Joan Mir?

Chantra already stood in for Mir at the Japanese Grand Prix and scored points there. From Australia onwards he is available again, because the Superbike World Championship has finished its season.

At Motegi, the Thai rider performed respectably and finished ahead of Franco Morbidelli, among others. This outing was only possible because the MotoGP and Superbike World Championship dates did not clash that weekend. At the Indonesian Grand Prix things were different, as Chantra was racing for Honda’s Superbike factory team at Estoril at the same time. This double burden is now gone. Chantra could therefore stand in for Mir not only in Australia but permanently at the following races too.

What is the catch with Chantra?

Motegi is considered a track that suits Chantra particularly well. He already won there clearly in Moto2 in 2023. Whether he can keep up similarly on other circuits is open. With him, Honda would have an available rider, but no guarantee that the result from Japan can be repeated.

How is Joan Mir doing?

There is no precise information about Mir’s health. No diagnosis has been published, and in consultation with MotoGP medical director Dr Angel Charte, the instruction remains rest.

His last official message dates from Misano. In it, he apologised to the team for not being able to give more that day. Since then, he has missed the race weekends in Austria, Japan and Indonesia. Because those responsible have communicated very little from the outset, uncertainty about his condition in the paddock is now high. For Mir, these are his final months at Honda anyway, as he will ride for Gresini in 2027. Whether he will get back on the RC213V before then, nobody can say at the moment.

What the Mir case means for Honda in the 2026 MotoGP season

If Honda does not find a viable solution, the factory team risks becoming a one-man show for Luca Marini in the remaining races. It is considered out of the question that Espargaro will quickly reach the necessary race fitness.

The case shows how quickly even a manufacturer like Honda reaches its limits. The world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer actually has a broad squad with regular riders, test riders and a Superbike factory rider in reserve. But one illness, two injuries and a scheduling conflict were enough to undermine this squad. Added to this is the packed calendar of the 2026 MotoGP season with 22 race weekends and 44 races, which leaves hardly any breaks alongside marketing commitments. At the same time, Honda has to push ahead with development of the 850cc bike for the new regulation period, and that requires exactly the test riders who are now supposed to step in as replacements.

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