Mir To Miss Austrian GP, Nakagami To Substitute For Honda HRC Castrol

Illness has forced former World Champion Joan Mir to miss this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. Honda Racing confirmed that the 2020 champion has been advised by his medical team to prioritize recovery over competing at Spielberg. The decision follows physical issues that disrupted Mir's performance at the San Marino GP, where he complained of headaches and severe fatigue during the race.

After finishing 20th in the sprint, Mir said he does not feel completely healthy. He attempted to continue on Sunday but withdrew after the fifth lap, unable to complete the race. Following the race, Mir underwent medical checks in Barcelona, which revealed altered parameters in his blood work. These irregularities require further investigation, prompting his medical team to recommend that he skip the Austrian round to rest and undergo additional tests.

Both Mir and Honda Racing are aiming to have him back for the next round, the Japanese GP at Motegi, a significant event for the manufacturer.

Honda Racing has substituted HRC Development Rider Takaaki Nakagami for Mir in the Honda RC213V. This is Nakagami's first MotoGP start since the 2025 Japanese GP. Nakagami has arrived in Austria following a private test at Mugello and was scheduled to be at the post-race test in Spielberg on Monday, making this a full race weekend for him to reacquaint himself with the RC213V and Michelin tires.

This opportunity will also serve as preparation for his wildcard appearance at Motegi, where Honda hopes to have Mir back in action.

Nakagami expressed his focus on getting back up to speed with the RC213V and Michelin tires ahead of his home wildcard race in Motegi. He emphasized that the primary goal is to ensure Mir's well-being. Currently, Mir is 18th in the overall standings, having participated in only 5 out of 14 Grand Prix races, with his best result being a fifth-place finish at Brno.