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The fourth episode of season two of “Behind the Dream”, the web series created by Mauro Talamonti, is dedicated to Joan Mir, while it follows him through his arrival in the Repsol Honda team, as well as how his love for competition took him from skateboarding to motorcycles. It’s as if two versions of Joan Mir exist: the MotoGP racer who speeds at over 350 km/h, braking as late as possible, and the reserved, introspective Joan Mir, who enjoys the sea and memories of his home. “I’m not very complicated. I’d describe myself as a fairly introverted person, passionate about his work, very family oriented. I love the sea, everything that involves diving, snorkeling, fishing, sailing. It reminds me a lot of my island,” the 26-year-old, two-time world champion from Palma de Mallorca stated.
When away from the track, Mir prefers to unwind: “I like to spend time with my family, thinking about things other than motorcycles. If I think about motorcycles, I do it one hundred percent. And, if I don’t think about motorcycles, I don’t even want people to talk to me about them.” Joan Mir is the 19th rider to race for the Repsol Honda team in its nearly 30-year history. “As a rider, wearing these colors is incredible,” he said, just before the Sepang test at the start of the season. “If you think about the history behind these colors, it’s crazy, and it means winning. It’s always a pleasure and a pressure. I can imagine that the first races will always be difficult. But I know what I’m capable of.”
Unlike many MotoGP riders, Mir didn’t grow up on minibikes but spent much of his youth on a skate ramp. “My father always liked motorcycles. He has a skate shop. When I was a growing up, my friends would ask me for T-shirts, stickers, everything! And I remember I had a ramp at home. It was a dream for all my friends. My passion for motorcycles comes from within. I was the one who asked for a motorcycle when I was a little.” It was a passion he shared with his father, a man who knew exactly what being a professional rider would entail. “You don’t risk your life to be cool. You risk your life because you want to be a racer,” his Dad said from his skate shop in Mallorca. “I didn’t want his to be a game. I wanted it to be his profession. I was very serious.” Mir’s childhood experiences led him to mature beyond his years, as he competed in every category, from local races in Mallorca to CEV and the World Championship.
Unfortunately, the road has been rough for Mir, with falls and a mid-season injury complicating his adjusting to the Repsol Honda Team’s RC213V. “I’m joining a team with an incredible history at a difficult time. It’s such a complicated moment in my career. It’s never happened in my life,” #36 reflected, after half a season riding for Honda. But his father’s support has never faltered: “I’m convinced that we’ll make it, of course! We have overcome other difficulties. I think everything will be fine, because he is a great fighter.”
