Mat Oxley claims ‘exciting’ MotoGP rider compares to Marc Marquez after the Malaysian Grand Prix

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The Malaysian Grand Prix podium featured three manufacturers for just the fourth time this season, despite Ducati notching up another victory.

In the absence of Marc Marquez, there has been a greater window of opportunity for riders in the midfield to snatch victories and podiums. For example, Raul Fernandez won his first MotoGP race at Phillip Island just a few weeks ago.

Another surprise has come from a rider who is 15th in the riders’ standings. Despite a slow start to the year, Honda have picked up pace, helping Joan Mir to two podiums in his last four races. At the Malaysian Grand Prix, he looked really comfortable on his bike.

Honda are plotting a new factory line-up, which may involve having two completely new riders in the future. Mir should be very worried, but as a champion, he has already proved his credentials in the sport. There should be someone willing to sign him for the new regulations in 2027.

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Mat Oxley compares ‘exciting’ Joan Mir’s performances with Honda to Marc Marquez’s

During the summer break, Mir sat top of MotoGP’s crash leaderboard as he continued to have a lot of bad luck. It felt as though the Spaniard was being taken out of so many races without it being his own doing.

Throughout 2025, he has been capable of challenging for positions in the top 10, but teammate Luca Marini has found more consistency. The Italian has finished every race in the points this season, retiring once, while Mir has had 12 DNFs.

Despite his up-and-down form, Mat Oxley has been impressed by his performances, even comparing him somewhat to seven-time champion Marquez, back when he rode for Honda.

“Joan Mir, I mean, wow,” he said. “Eight seconds down [to Alex Marquez], which is quite a big gap in a 20-lap race. It’s quite a big gap, but wow, he is so good to watch on that thing.

“He obviously crashed out trying to go for the podium in the sprint, and that thing, he’s just got it dancing all over the place. He says that for the last time over the last few races that he actually feels that he’s enjoying it on the bike, and he feels like, generally, the front limit is beyond where he is.

“He can actually play with that limit. Man, he’s got the front chattering, the rear stepping out, and he’s not quite as exciting as Marc Marquez was to watch on the Honda, but he’s not far off it. Just massive props to him.”

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Is Joan Mir MotoGP’s most confusing rider during the 2025 season?

Having failed to see the chequered flag in 60% of his races this year, it would be hard to view Mir’s campaign as a success.

However, his last two significant results have really helped to alter the perspective on his season. Honda have improved, and so has he.

In the eight races where he has made the finish, he hasn’t finished lower than 12th on a Honda motorcycle, which has been a handful at the best of times.

Whether or not it’s enough to save his ride for 2027 is another question, but a solid 2026 season would give his team a lot to think about before deciding who to sign.