Joan Mir Ruled Out of Japan and Indonesia MotoGP Races
Joan Mir Illness Keeps Honda Rider Out of Action
Joan Mir’s 2026 MotoGP campaign has taken another unexpected turn, with the Honda HRC Castrol rider ruled out of both the Japanese and Indonesian Grands Prix as doctors continue trying to establish the cause of his ongoing illness.
Mir had already missed the Austrian Grand Prix after being advised to step away from racing following medical examinations. He will now also sit out the next two rounds of the championship, meaning his return to the MotoGP grid has been pushed back further.
The decision follows several rounds of medical testing in Barcelona. According to Honda, examinations after the San Marino Grand Prix found altered parameters in Mir’s bloodwork, requiring additional investigation and testing. At that stage, doctors had not reached a clear diagnosis.
Joan Mir’s Problems Became Clear During San Marino Weekend
The situation became more serious during the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano.
Mir struggled with his physical condition throughout the weekend and ultimately retired from the race. He had indicated that he was operating at only around half of his normal energy level, highlighting how difficult the weekend had become for the 2020 MotoGP world champion.
After the race, Mir travelled to Barcelona for further medical checks. The examinations identified abnormalities in his bloodwork, but they did not immediately provide an explanation for the symptoms he was experiencing.
With no definitive diagnosis available, his medical team recommended rest and further testing rather than allowing him to continue racing.
That decision subsequently ruled him out of the Austrian round at the Red Bull Ring.
Honda Initially Expected Mir Back in Japan
Honda had initially hoped that the additional recovery period would allow Mir to return for his home Grand Prix with the manufacturer in Japan.
Instead, the latest medical advice has extended his absence.
Honda confirmed that Mir will miss Rounds 17 and 18 of the 2026 MotoGP season — the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi on October 4 and the Indonesian Grand Prix on October 11. Doctors have advised him to continue focusing on his recovery while further investigations take place.
The absence is particularly notable because the Japanese race is an important event for Honda, with Mir being one of the factory team’s principal riders.
Joan Mir’s Honda Seat Has Needed a Temporary Replacement
Honda has already had to adjust its rider line-up because of Mir’s health situation.
For the Austrian Grand Prix, Honda HRC development rider Takaaki Nakagami stepped in for Mir. Honda had explained that the substitution would also give Nakagami an opportunity to continue development work with the RC213V during the Spielberg weekend and subsequent testing.
With Mir now set to miss two additional races, Honda faces another period without its regular factory rider.
The team will therefore have to manage the upcoming Asian stretch of the calendar while Mir concentrates on the medical process away from the circuit.
No Definitive Diagnosis Yet
The most important element of Mir’s situation remains that doctors have not yet established a definitive diagnosis.
That distinction is important because the current decision is based on medical advice and his physical condition rather than a confirmed long-term diagnosis. Reports indicate that Mir has undergone multiple tests at Barcelona’s Dexeus University Hospital under the supervision of medical specialist Dr Ángel Charte and his team.
The medical team is continuing to investigate the symptoms that Mir has experienced over recent months, with the situation becoming more pronounced during the San Marino weekend.
For now, the priority is therefore recovery and further medical assessment rather than setting a firm date for his return.
MotoGP Schedule Moves On Without Mir
Mir’s absence comes during a particularly busy part of the 2026 MotoGP calendar.
After the Austrian round, the championship moves into its Asian phase, beginning with Japan on October 4, followed by Indonesia on October 11. Australia, Malaysia, Portugal and Spain follow later in the season.
For Honda, the immediate task will be finding consistency without Mir. For the rider himself, the priority is different: understanding the illness, completing the necessary medical tests and returning only when doctors consider him ready.
Mir’s latest withdrawal therefore leaves his 2026 campaign on hold, with his eventual comeback dependent on the outcome of the ongoing medical investigation rather than a predetermined race date.
