Joan Mir has already impressed in his short time in the Moto2 class in 2018 and it has already been announced that he is moving to the MotoGP class next year with Suzuki. Mir finished on the podium for the first time in the Moto2 class at the French GP in just his fifth start in the class. How does this compare with other top riders in their first year in Moto2? The following table shows this comparison against a selection other riders who have made an immediate impact when moving up to Moto2.

 

Rider Moto2 starts to first podium Age at first Moto2 podium Moto2 races to first win Final championship posn. in first Moto2 season
Mir 5 20 years 261 days ? ?
Vinales 2 19 years 91 days 2 3rd
Rins 2 19 years 125 days 10 2nd
Iannone 4 20 years 301 days 4 3rd
Marc Marquez 4 18 years 87 days 4 2nd
Bagnaia 4 20 years 113 days 19 5th

 

So the question now is – How long before Mir wins for the first time in the Moto2 class, and can he become the first to win the Moto2 title in the first season up from the lightweight-class? Unlikely as he already has a 47 point deficit to the championship leader, but who knows with another 13 races still remaining of 2018. If Mir wins in Catalunya, then it is game-on!