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Suzuki MotoGP team wanted me more than Honda - Joan Mir

MotoGP 2019 debutant Joan Mir says he picked Suzuki over Honda because it wanted him more.

Honda agreed a pre-contract with the 20-year-old Moto2 rookie, but instead he will step up to MotoGP with Suzuki - which has only won one race since it returned in 2015 while Honda has claimed four of the last five titles with Marc Marquez.

"Suzuki presents me with a really good project, and was the one who bid harder," Mir explained.

"And this was the reason also I really wanted to go there. I felt that the bet of Suzuki was stronger."

Honda allowed its option on Mir to lapse and will instead replace Dani Pedrosa with Jorge Lorenzo next year.

It is understood that activating the option would have meant Honda had to match any other works team offer Mir received, and it was reportedly not willing to do so.

Mir said that the career progression of Maverick Vinales was a "model" for him, the current Yamaha rider having spent a single year in Moto2 before joining the MotoGP grid with Suzuki back in 2015.

He added that the two-year cycles of MotoGP works contracts played a big part in his own decision to limit his time in the intermediate class.

"I think Moto2 is of course a category with a high level, and of course [where] you have to learn a lot," said Mir, who is currently sixth in the Moto2 standings.

"But the contracts of MotoGP that go by two years, you have to adapt a bit to this.

"I also said that in the start of the year, if I felt strong with the Moto2 in the first races, I wanted to go to MotoGP as soon as possible.

"This is my opinion, and I think this is the correct way."

Reigning champion Marquez spent two years in Moto2, and said he had always felt he had to win a title before stepping up.

"Looks like now it is more and more often that the riders are just one year in Moto2 and then go to MotoGP, or go as quick as possible to MotoGP," he said.

"When I was there, I had another mentality. When I was in 125cc, if I didn't get the championship I didn't want to move to Moto2.

"And when I was in Moto2, if I don't win the championship, I don't want to move to MotoGP.

"That was my way because I feel like you are ready when you are champion and then it's the best way to arrive in the next category.

"But this doesn't mean that you arrive more prepared or less.

"Joan, for example, of course he will need time but if you have the talent, sooner or later you will arrive [at the front]."

Zdroj: autosport.com