Penalty imposed on Joan Mir in MotoGP competition!
In the second free practice session of the MotoGP in Barcelona, Joan Mir set the fastest time, showcasing his form on the iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. However, the Spanish rider's weekend took a turn as he received a three-place penalty during the qualifying session.
The penalty was issued by the MotoGP stewards, led by Simon Crafar, due to an incident where Mir impeded the reigning champion Jorge Martin in turn five. This was the first time in the current season that Mir was penalised for dawdling on the ideal line, towards the end of the first qualifying session.
As a result, Mir will start from P20 instead of his original 17th position. This unfortunate turn of events means that Alex Marquez will start alongside Mir at the MotoGP in Barcelona on Sunday, as the Suzuki rider must start from the back row. Marquez, who secured pole position with Fabio Quartararo second and Marc Marquez third in the front rows, will be aiming to capitalise on Mir's misfortune.
The penalty did not involve an incident at the beginning of the final showdown where Mir blocked Fabio Di Giannantonio's exit from the pit lane.
The MotoGP race in Barcelona on Sunday consists of 24 laps, and with Mir starting from the back of the grid, it promises to be a challenging race for the Spanish rider. However, Mir has shown his resilience in the past, and fans will be eager to see if he can fight his way back through the field.
For those interested in the exact starting grid for the MotoGP on Sunday, the details can be found here. Meanwhile, Martin, Honda wildcard Aleix Espargaro, and former Suzuki teammate Alex Rins will each move up one position as a result of Mir's penalty.
This penalty marks a disappointing end to a promising weekend for Mir, who led a session in the premier class since the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix. The Catalan Grand Prix is set to be an exciting race, and with Mir starting from the back, it promises to be a thrilling comeback story for the Suzuki rider.
