MotoGP Qatar 2026: Joan Mir misses the GP, Honda calls up Jake Dixon

Honda HRC confirmed on Thursday morning that Joan Mir will not race in the Qatar GP. In Lusail the official Honda team hands a ride to Jake Dixon, who will join Luca Marini. For the rider from Majorca, it is another stop after the complicated return in Sepang, which ended with retirement when the visual disturbances and dizziness started to make themselves felt again.

The decision came after hours of waiting. In Malaysia Mir had returned to the track and had also secured access to Q2, but on Sunday the problems resurfaced and the rider chose to stop so as not to force a recovery that still does not give guarantees. His presence in Qatar had remained in doubt until Thursday morning, when Honda opted for caution.

For the Japanese manufacturer, this is another change on the fly. Dixon comes from WorldSBK, where he races with Honda, and completes the line-up on the Lusail weekend. The British rider brings with him a long experience in Moto2: from 2019 to 2025 he collected 7 wins and 22 podiums, with fourth place in 2023 as his best final result.

Dixon's return

In MotoGP Dixon had already raced two Grands Prix in 2021, in Great Britain and at Aragón, on the Yamaha of the Petronas team as a replacement for Franco Morbidelli. At Silverstone he finished 19th, while at MotorLand he did not complete the race. Now he returns to the premier class after 5 years, with the chance to come back on an official Honda MotoGP bike.

“First of all I have to thank Honda HRC for this opportunity,” Dixon said in the Japanese manufacturer’s press release. The British rider explained that he will approach the weekend calmly and step by step, aware of the time that has passed since the last time he rode a MotoGP. Mir, meanwhile, will continue his recovery at home while waiting to get back into shape for his return.