Joan Mir will miss the Japanese and Indonesian Grands Prix, Honda has confirmed. The rider had already been forced to sit out the Austrian MotoGP because of illness, while at the San Marino Grand Prix he said his energy was running at roughly 50 per cent of its maximum.

MotoGP chief medical officer Angel Charte said Mir has been dealing with symptoms affecting his energy and performance for several months, with the problem becoming more severe recently. The cause has not been confirmed. Mir is undergoing a series of tests at Dexeus University Hospital in an effort to reach a definitive diagnosis. Medical advice calls for 15 days of strict rest and various treatments, and Charte’s team will continue to monitor his condition closely.

Charte has advised Mir against taking part in the first two races of the Asian tour. The Japanese Grand Prix is scheduled for 2–4 October at Motegi. Takaaki Nakagami replaced Mir in Austria and is expected to take the Honda wildcard at Motegi, after riding Honda’s 1,000cc MotoGP bike at the circuit before the Austrian round. It is expected to be the premier class’s final wildcard appearance, with such entries due to be banned from 2027.

Honda HRC’s other options

Aleix Espargaro and Cal Crutchlow are the other two possible choices for the factory Honda HRC team. Espargaro was injured in a testing crash at Sepang earlier in the year, then recently returned to track action at Mugello. Crutchlow raced the LCR Honda RC213V several times this season while standing in for injured rider Johann Zarco. Zarco’s return sent the British rider back to the sidelines. If Honda calls up a replacement for Mir, that seat would be with Honda HRC rather than LCR Honda.