MotoGP makes its debut at Balaton Park this weekend with the primary Hungarian Grand Prix since 1992 happening there, and Joan Mir has given an optimistic evaluation of the format’s racing potential forward of the primary apply periods on Friday.
The format at Balaton is characterised by arduous braking zones into gradual pace chicanes. Its gradual common pace led to criticism of the circuit by some riders, with Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia – who rode the observe on a manufacturing bike in the summertime – saying on the earlier MotoGP spherical in Austria that trendy grand prix bikes are usually not suited to a format just like the one on the Hungarian venue.
Mir, although, thinks that the Balaton format is one that gives a unique traits to most, which he sees as one thing constructive.
“I made a few laps with the bicycle,” Joan Mir informed the pre-event press convention in Hungary.
“It seems very small, fairly tight, one of many [more] completely different tracks within the calendar.
“I feel that to have a unique type of format may be very good since you see one thing completely different, perhaps some using traits of individuals which might be capable of be quicker in this type of observe.
“Quite a lot of braking factors, lots of probabilities to overhaul, so I feel it is going to be nice.”
Mir added that there are sections of the observe that remind him of locations on different circuits, such because the Purple Bull Ring or the Mandalika Worldwide Avenue Circuit.
“I feel that, for the character of the turns, it may be like sector one in Austria, that chicane, nevertheless it’s true that this one seems even tighter,” Mir stated.
“Additionally, this sector two seems just like sector two in Mandalika with [those] quick corners. So, it is going to be a superb combine.
“Right here, we don’t have lots of quick corners, it seems prefer it’s extra all the pieces stop-and-go. I feel the character itself, usually stop-and-go tracks are [more fun] to see from the surface I’d say, these days, so it is going to be nice.”
Is it a observe that might swimsuit the Honda RC213V?
“I don’t know,” the Honda HRC Castrol rider stated, “however the actuality is that when we’ve a brand new observe on the calendar I feel it’s a possibility for everybody to attempt to get the possibility.
“For me, as a rider, I’ve to provide that 100 per cent, the utmost; nevertheless it’s not solely that I’ve to adapt shortly to the observe – additionally the bike has to adapt shortly to the observe.
“If you happen to begin enjoying rather a lot with the setup, all the pieces turns into tougher. However I feel that we are able to make a superb job.”
When World Superbike made its maiden go to to Balaton on the finish of July, one of many clear speaking factors was the crash in Race 1 that took out a number of riders within the opening corners of the race.
Mir stated that there’s at all times a danger within the begin of a race and that gradual corners initially of the lap don’t essentially assist, but in addition identified that Balaton isn’t the one observe with a probably harmful opening part.
“At all times there’s a danger in MotoGP or on this world that the beginning may be very harmful, and likewise when you might have gradual corners the individuals are in all probability extra courageous as a result of the truth that the danger is much less can create a bit extra hassle,” he stated.
“However, for instance, in a while we go to Barcelona and we arrive there within the first nook at 250kph, 22 riders with lots of pace, and likewise is a important and troublesome scenario.”
