Suzuki racer Joan Mir says he only became comfortable with his GSX-RR mid-way through the French Grand Prix after struggling for form all weekend, though he only recovered to 11th.
The title contender-who came into the French GP event just eight points down on series leader Fabio Quartararo- ran last during the early stages of the wet encounter as he struggled for rear end stability.
He managed to find some confidence in the latter stages and close on the riders ahead, although just ran out of time to relieve fellow championship battlers Maverick Vinales and Quartararo.
Mir said he was “unable to be strong” due to the rear end of his machine sliding round on him in the early laps, though the balance came back to him later and thus allowed him to be “really fast” and limit the damage to his championship tilt.
“I found a good feeling in the last 15 laps of the weekend, but better late than never,” rued Mir.
“It was a difficult race at the beginning because I was unable to find any grip, particularly on corner entry as I was losing the rear completely.
“This meant I was unable to be strong, and I was last at one point because it was like something wasn’t right (with the bike).
“Then I started to find a better feeling from the rear of the bike, and I was able to be really fast at the end of the race and recover a lot of time relative to the leaders, but they were too far away (to catch).
“I’m happy because it was my first race in wet conditions and I was able to be competitive at the end, and I hope to be more competitive at the next wet race.”
With Quartararo also struggling during the sodden conditions to ninth, Mir only lost two points to the Frenchman.
This therefore means he heads into the Aragon double-header just ten points in-arrears of the title lead, now with just five contests remaining on the 2020 MotoGP schedule.
The top four in the standings are now covered by less than 20 points thanks to Andrea Dovizioso’s fourth place in the French encounter, the Ducati racer now just eight points away from Mir in third overall, while Vinales remains in touching distance in fourth- 19 off Quartararo.
