Joan Mir says he believes his Suzuki Ecstar team have made a significant step forward over the winter following an encouraging performance during the first 2022 MotoGP pre-season test at Sepang.
One of the team’s looking to make a notable improvement for 2022 after the defence of its 2020 MotoGP title led to a competitive but winless campaign last year, Mir petitioned the Japanese firm to be more aggressive with its GSX-RR upgrades.
With both Mir and team-mate Alex Rins comfortably inside the top ten throughout the weekend despite swerving the temptation to do a low fuel, fresh tyre sprint during the afternoon, the Spaniard pronounced himself very satisfied with the potential of the bike.
“Almost everything [has improved],” he said. “But we have to confirm a lot of things in Mandalika. Today has been an important day to understand the potential of the engine.
"The electronics were working a lot better and I was able to be quite fast and really consistent in pace.
"This morning we made the wrong choice to make the time attack. We only had 2 tyres. We started with the soft. I went out but I was not making a good lap time.
"I made a lap time with a used rear and hard front. We’re really close, I think there is a margin, but we are not here to make the time attack."
After suffering for a conservative approach last season in the wake of its surprise 2020 title win, Suzuki has paid particularly close attention to the engine over the winter, with Mir confirming gains have been made in straight line performance.
"Yes! We are close. We are happy. We clearly improved our top speed and we are there in the middle which is really important.
"We know we have a fast race bike. but always to fight with the Ducatis and these guys with the engine that we had, it was difficult to overtake.
"The same story in all the races. A little more power is a big help. I expect this advantage to be a lot better."
