Moto3: Mir has ride of his life for Qatar win

Qatar Grand Prix winner Joan Mir has admitted that it took the ride of his life to take his second victory in the Moto3 class, after a ferocious battle that went right down to the chequered flag at the Losail circuit.

Scrapping with the likes of fellow podium finishers John McPhee and Jorge Martin, the Mallorcan says that it took all his effort to leave himself in the right place come the chequered flag.

“Amazing! The best way to begin the Championship. I want to thank my team and Honda because the bike was really good and I was really comfortable. We were so fast on the straight. The race was really tough and long, and I tried to be in the front all the time to control my rivals.

“The whole weekend was perfect. It was the best race in my career because I had everything under control. I hope I can continue like this in Argentina – I think we have a really good bike but it’s different at every track.”

However, it wasn’t as plain sailing for his Leopard Racing teammate Livio Loi, after the Belgian rider became entangled with Red Bull Ajo KTM racer Bo Bendsneyder, causing the Dutchman to fall as Loi came home in 12^th.

“We changed something in race trim and on the first lap I had already made quite a leap forward. I was in the first group and had the speed to fight with them; but I arrived at turn five I arrived faster than Bo Bendsneyder and I wanted to pass him in turn six, but my rear wheel slipped and we touched: I’m sorry for him for me, because I had the pace to get behind the top five. Now we will go to Argentina very motivated.”